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Employment and Pregnancy
bazzafazza
Posts: 6 Forumite
Hi guys,
just looking for a little advice before I potentially take things further.
My wife is 22 weeks pregnant and currently works as a Nursery Manager. On 31st January we had a meeting with our consultant who advised us that, due to complications with her medication (she's epileptic), there is an increased chance of various things including a hole in the heart, underdevelopment etc and that my wife should take steps to change her duties at work, reduce her hours to part time and go on maternity leave after 34 weeks. She referred us to Great Ormond Street and my wife has to have scans every 3 weeks to check on growth and the like.
That afternoon we went to her work and spoke to the MD & Financial Director of the company and explained the situation. Both of them assured her that it would be fine, that the reduced hours would be made to work and the health of her and baby comes first.
Since that time there has been no provision to change her duties, she's still in a position where she's picking up 2-3 year olds having tantrums and throwing their arms and legs around, still have to change nappies and, due to other members of staff being ill (something which I understand happens at times) she's been made to work 4 double shifts this week meaning instead of the 60 hours she was supposed to work in the time since we spoke to the directors her hours haven't been decreased at all but she's worked an additional 8 this week, being asked to work from 7:30-6:30 in the nursery.
The main thing is that there has been no effort from the directors to provide a provision for her needs and, in fact, another staff members hours have been reduced for which there is no medical need. One of the directors then told my wife yesterday when she asked about the reduced hours that 'we'll see week by week'. There doesn't seem to be any provision in place for her at all (she had to create her own New and Expectant Mothers Risk Assessment!).
Am I right in thinking this is somehow negligent or am I being a overprotective dad to be? I can't help thinking that her health and, eventually, the health of our unborn child are going to be effected by this. A stray kick from a toddler having a tantrum or just being overworked to the point of something happening with the baby could be disastrous especially with the consultant being concerned about such serious health problems for the baby.
Should I be looking to take this further?
just looking for a little advice before I potentially take things further.
My wife is 22 weeks pregnant and currently works as a Nursery Manager. On 31st January we had a meeting with our consultant who advised us that, due to complications with her medication (she's epileptic), there is an increased chance of various things including a hole in the heart, underdevelopment etc and that my wife should take steps to change her duties at work, reduce her hours to part time and go on maternity leave after 34 weeks. She referred us to Great Ormond Street and my wife has to have scans every 3 weeks to check on growth and the like.
That afternoon we went to her work and spoke to the MD & Financial Director of the company and explained the situation. Both of them assured her that it would be fine, that the reduced hours would be made to work and the health of her and baby comes first.
Since that time there has been no provision to change her duties, she's still in a position where she's picking up 2-3 year olds having tantrums and throwing their arms and legs around, still have to change nappies and, due to other members of staff being ill (something which I understand happens at times) she's been made to work 4 double shifts this week meaning instead of the 60 hours she was supposed to work in the time since we spoke to the directors her hours haven't been decreased at all but she's worked an additional 8 this week, being asked to work from 7:30-6:30 in the nursery.
The main thing is that there has been no effort from the directors to provide a provision for her needs and, in fact, another staff members hours have been reduced for which there is no medical need. One of the directors then told my wife yesterday when she asked about the reduced hours that 'we'll see week by week'. There doesn't seem to be any provision in place for her at all (she had to create her own New and Expectant Mothers Risk Assessment!).
Am I right in thinking this is somehow negligent or am I being a overprotective dad to be? I can't help thinking that her health and, eventually, the health of our unborn child are going to be effected by this. A stray kick from a toddler having a tantrum or just being overworked to the point of something happening with the baby could be disastrous especially with the consultant being concerned about such serious health problems for the baby.
Should I be looking to take this further?
0
Comments
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Your wife should be negotiating with her employers, not you.
I would advise your wife, at this point, to write to the MD and formally request a temporary reduction in working hours as per the medical advice.Don't put it DOWN; put it AWAY"I would like more sisters, that the taking out of one, might not leave such stillness" Emily Dickinson
Janice 1964-2016
Thank you Honey Bear0 -
Your wife needs to stand up for herself a bit more and should have said no to the extra hours.Don't trust a forum for advice. Get proper paid advice. Any advice given should always be checked0
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Your wife should be negotiating with her employers, not you.
I would advise your wife, at this point, to write to the MD and formally request a temporary reduction in working hours as per the medical advice.
Oh since the initial meeting I haven't been anything to do with negotiations or her work. I was just at the first meeting to say the words as she was (understandably) a bit tearful and wanted me there for a bit of moral support.
There has been a formal request sent to all directors along with the consultant's letter voicing her concerns and recommendations.Takeaway_Addict wrote: »Your wife needs to stand up for herself a bit more and should have said no to the extra hours.
Agreed, its something that we've spoken about. She saw it as the only option for the kids at the nursery to get the care they needed but she does not realise that its potentially to the detriment of her and the baby and won't be working additional hours going forward.0 -
Has she shown to her boss clinical written evidence of advice that she needs to reduce her hours for the health of your unborn child and her own?0
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Sounds like her boss isn't letting her manage the place, if she was truly a manager she would be able to delegate the duties to othersBe Alert..........Britain needs lerts.0
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