Hi Guys
Wondering if anyone is feeling like me? so much to say - hope i don't confuse you but very upset!
I've been with my employer for over 10 years, made my way up the business made many many sacrifices along the way, all in the spirit of doing a good job and being recognized a a valued employee - over the years i have realised this has been fruitless but never expected the treatment i have received since telling my director i am pregnant.
This is a small company 15 - 20 employees - No Hr - no union - no protection for us workers. Recently my directors who rely heavily on myself and several other key players, employed a man in an important position (above me) against the advise of most of the employees. We know this man smokes weed on his lunch break does very little, and his main interest is going home at 5PM probably to smoke more weed. Needless to say that after 3 months in the position and countless complains from us and clients ( i deal with the clients so very stressful time for me trying to cover up this guys incompetence) they finally realised he was not the man for the job. His contract is so water tight they can't get rid. I lost a major account because of his failure to follow instructions. During this time i announced to my employer - early on the work i do is construction so many tasks and substances i can't use now pregnant, i am expecting. Director is a woman in her 50's - 2 kids in late teens. The responce i got was fake happiness and surprise. So, 3 months on and they have given me nothing but grief. On my 1st antenatal appointment i received 6 missed calls from director and 2 curt voicemails asking where i was - even though i had informed her weeks before via e mail and reminded her verbally that i would not be in the office. This caused my blood pressure to measure 160/90. Not good. Turns out she had given annual leave to the admin girl and was annoyed i was not there to answer the phone. Since this she has compained to the wage's guy that she has to pay me for said appointments and basically been nice to my face even though i know she is pissed i am pregnant. I was called into her office today for her to tell me there is not really enough work for my role and i will be expected to take a more 'admin' based role, i know the next step is to cut my pay and next to make me redundant. She has had 2 meetings with solicitors since i have been pregnant - even though in the 10 years i have worked for her she has never hired a solicitor before! She now only talks to me over e mail even though i am next door to her. If i could afford to leave i would. Am mostly upset though - this woman attended my wedding and fathers funeral but now she treats me like this??? i know its because i am pregnant - she did this to the last receptionist that got pregnant and i had to sit by and watch (disgustedly - but what could i do) she jumped through every loop whole possible and managed to sack her for everything but being pregnant

What country are you in? What are the employment laws and equality legislation? You don't need a union to be protected.

I'm scared to tell my employer for that reason. It's only 4 employees in this office total. I got her to hire one to split time with me . Before i was pregnant if i were sick she would have a hissy fit. I am basically not allowed to get sick, take a vacation, and I don't get benifits. Job from hell huh. I took it because that was the only job i could get in ultrasound. bab y is due begining of october so i guess august will be my last month. I'm scared to tell her and she goes hire someone else ... I only work 25 hours a week...

I feel for you ladies. Your bosses should be wanting to ensure you are comfortable during this happy time. Luckily my manager has been great with me and I get to work from home on my really bad MS days which is almost everyday. I keep telling DH if my job didn't have the flexibility to work from home I would have been fired long ago for not being able to go in. I hope that things get better for you!

That is absolutely terrible. Once I told my boss I was pregnant, he gave me all sorts of talks and paperwork saying baby's health and my health will always come before anything at my job. I'm allowed 12 weeks leave (not paid, but still) that I may use from now until the baby is born. I would definitely find out what your country's laws are to this extent. She should not be treating you this way, and to be quite honest, I'd document everything just to be on the safe side in case she does fire you and you can file suit against her.

Definately shouldn't be being treated this way. If you are in the UK and do get fired or pay cut I think you would be well within your rights to take it to an employment tribunal! Make sure you keep note of all these things that are going on - calls and complaints about you taking time out for antenatal appointments etc).

Im having a tough time at work to. I told my boss I was pregnant because I had a previous mc and wanted to let work know early on to ease the pressure as my job is very stressful. Nothing changed at work and was signed off for a week by my doctor. Since getting back things have got worse meetings have been arranged for late in the evenings so I have to stay late, i have to account for my every movement and been told to take on further work. I really hate it but can't afford to leave