Not sure what to do ... work related

Flipsy · Oct 12th, 2010, 05:36 AM

Ok I work as a waitress (difficult enough at the best of times) I've been off on holiday (ended up with the cold different story) and last night was my first shift back.. I managed to keep it together and keep going but now the coal fires have gone on I am finding it very very hot and felt a bit faint at times last night. I'd already mentioned to my boss about the heat before the fires went on and my strategy for coping was to stepoutside for five to cool down when I needed to but I'm worried that will result in me ending up with the cold again.

Some of my friends say I should just go and get signed off BUT I don't start maternity till at least January 1st I'm only 17 weeks pregnant just now. I'm unsure of how long I'd get sick pay but am almost certain i'd qualify for ssp I think. It just doesn't feel like the right thing to do yet.

WWYD? Not really relevant but I'm 38.

FlatShoes · Oct 12th, 2010, 06:18 AM

Hmmm, that's a really tough one babes. I find it hard enough with an office job - let alone waitressing!!

Have you spoken to your boss? Is there something else you could do instead, is there a bar or something you could work at?

I'm not sure how the sick pay would work - I think if you were signed off you would et SPP but its not much.

Like you said, a change in your working conditions/patterns/duties would be better than coming off sick completely! Speak to him - see what he can do. I think employers have to tread carefully and make reasonable adjustments for pregnant women!

Flipsy · Oct 12th, 2010, 06:22 AM

Working on the bar would be harder due to the bending and stretching added to the fact i hate hate it lol. My only issue is the temperature really and there isn't anything he can do about that. Just my luck that it's th first winter in the pub that the heating actually works and i'm pregnant. He's being really understanding about the dissapearing from the floor to cool down. SSP would be the same as what I earn a month anyways. just feels like wimping out and thats not my style.

FlatShoes · Oct 12th, 2010, 10:32 AM

But think about baby hun! If you think going sick would be best for bubs then do it.

It's not wimping out! Its you taking care of your child.

Good luck

x

Flipsy · Oct 12th, 2010, 17:10 PM

Thanks flatshoes. I know and if it was anyone else i'd be saying the same thing. I also know that this isn't my problem but there are a few off on holiday over the next couple of weeks so if I go sick the girls and guys left will really struggle.

forgodssake · Oct 12th, 2010, 18:20 PM

Providing you have earnt an average of £97 per week in the 8 weeks prior to your first day of sickness you will be entitled to 28 weeks SSP which is currently £79.15 per week.

This will however be likely to affect your entitlemt to SMP but you would still be entitled to claim MA

Your employer needs to carry out a risk assessment (by law) and the heat from the coal fires should be brought up in this - he then needs to take resonable steps to make your working environment risk free and comfortable for you.

Hope this helps

Flipsy · Oct 12th, 2010, 18:38 PM

Risk assessment already done as soon as they found out I was pregnant. Just to be clear I'm not complaining about anything my boss has done or not done (he can be annoying but he's been really good) He can't not light the fires it's a directive from on high and the date is set in stone, none of us like working with the fires on it's just worse for me at the moment.

This was about me and smp is a little lower than I get paid so i'd end up with stress about paying the bills instead .. catch 22 lol. thank you though.

momofmister · Oct 12th, 2010, 19:36 PM

Instead of stepping outside, are you able to step into an office perhaps with a large fan and just stand in there for a couple minutes with a cold cloth on the back of your neck? Make sure you are drinking lots of ice water, maybe ask to have your water in back where you pick up your orders that way you can catch a quick drink every time you need to.

I feel for you, I used to waitress and the heat never worked when we needed it to, and always worked when we didn't need to.

Flipsy · Oct 13th, 2010, 05:50 AM

The office is hotter than the rest of the pub, no air at all and is always kept locked. i do have my water at the coffee station where I put the orders through so always on hand.

Like I said they are being helpful there isn't much they can do about how the heat makes me feel in a normal world it would be comfortable and for the first winter ever I haven't had a single guest complaint about being cold. Last year they had to wear their coats to eat not good..

I'll judge how I am in a couple of weeks, might be worse at the moment as I have the remnants of a cold as well which won't be helping I don't suppose. in an ideal world i'd have stopped working there by now but its not an ideal world eh..

Oct 12th, 2010, 05:36 AM	#1
Flipsy Other Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 1,268	Not sure what to do ... work related Ok I work as a waitress (difficult enough at the best of times) I've been off on holiday (ended up with the cold different story) and last night was my first shift back.. I managed to keep it together and keep going but now the coal fires have gone on I am finding it very very hot and felt a bit faint at times last night. I'd already mentioned to my boss about the heat before the fires went on and my strategy for coping was to stepoutside for five to cool down when I needed to but I'm worried that will result in me ending up with the cold again. Some of my friends say I should just go and get signed off BUT I don't start maternity till at least January 1st I'm only 17 weeks pregnant just now. I'm unsure of how long I'd get sick pay but am almost certain i'd qualify for ssp I think. It just doesn't feel like the right thing to do yet. WWYD? Not really relevant but I'm 38.

Status: Offline

Oct 12th, 2010, 06:18 AM	#2
FlatShoes Pregnant (Expecting) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 1,672	Hmmm, that's a really tough one babes. I find it hard enough with an office job - let alone waitressing!! Have you spoken to your boss? Is there something else you could do instead, is there a bar or something you could work at? I'm not sure how the sick pay would work - I think if you were signed off you would et SPP but its not much. Like you said, a change in your working conditions/patterns/duties would be better than coming off sick completely! Speak to him - see what he can do. I think employers have to tread carefully and make reasonable adjustments for pregnant women!

Status: Offline

Oct 12th, 2010, 06:22 AM	#3
Flipsy Other Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 1,268	Working on the bar would be harder due to the bending and stretching added to the fact i hate hate it lol. My only issue is the temperature really and there isn't anything he can do about that. Just my luck that it's th first winter in the pub that the heating actually works and i'm pregnant. He's being really understanding about the dissapearing from the floor to cool down. SSP would be the same as what I earn a month anyways. just feels like wimping out and thats not my style.

Status: Offline

Oct 12th, 2010, 10:32 AM	#4
FlatShoes Pregnant (Expecting) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 1,672	But think about baby hun! If you think going sick would be best for bubs then do it. It's not wimping out! Its you taking care of your child. Good luck x

Status: Offline

Oct 12th, 2010, 17:10 PM	#5
Flipsy Other Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 1,268	Thanks flatshoes. I know and if it was anyone else i'd be saying the same thing. I also know that this isn't my problem but there are a few off on holiday over the next couple of weeks so if I go sick the girls and guys left will really struggle.

Status: Offline

Oct 12th, 2010, 18:20 PM	#6
forgodssake Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: cloud 9 Posts: 849	Providing you have earnt an average of £97 per week in the 8 weeks prior to your first day of sickness you will be entitled to 28 weeks SSP which is currently £79.15 per week. This will however be likely to affect your entitlemt to SMP but you would still be entitled to claim MA Your employer needs to carry out a risk assessment (by law) and the heat from the coal fires should be brought up in this - he then needs to take resonable steps to make your working environment risk free and comfortable for you. Hope this helps

Status: Offline

Oct 12th, 2010, 18:38 PM	#7
Flipsy Other Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 1,268	Risk assessment already done as soon as they found out I was pregnant. Just to be clear I'm not complaining about anything my boss has done or not done (he can be annoying but he's been really good) He can't not light the fires it's a directive from on high and the date is set in stone, none of us like working with the fires on it's just worse for me at the moment. This was about me and smp is a little lower than I get paid so i'd end up with stress about paying the bills instead .. catch 22 lol. thank you though.

Status: Offline

Oct 12th, 2010, 19:36 PM	#8
momofmister Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 185	Instead of stepping outside, are you able to step into an office perhaps with a large fan and just stand in there for a couple minutes with a cold cloth on the back of your neck? Make sure you are drinking lots of ice water, maybe ask to have your water in back where you pick up your orders that way you can catch a quick drink every time you need to. I feel for you, I used to waitress and the heat never worked when we needed it to, and always worked when we didn't need to.

Status: Offline

Oct 13th, 2010, 05:50 AM	#9
Flipsy Other Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 1,268	The office is hotter than the rest of the pub, no air at all and is always kept locked. i do have my water at the coffee station where I put the orders through so always on hand. Like I said they are being helpful there isn't much they can do about how the heat makes me feel in a normal world it would be comfortable and for the first winter ever I haven't had a single guest complaint about being cold. Last year they had to wear their coats to eat not good.. I'll judge how I am in a couple of weeks, might be worse at the moment as I have the remnants of a cold as well which won't be helping I don't suppose. in an ideal world i'd have stopped working there by now but its not an ideal world eh..

Status: Offline

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