lets talk work

[paintrider89]

So, firt things first, I love my job, but its hard work. Lots of physical activity, and early hours. I work 4am to 12pm most days
Its a part time, about 30 hours a week. I am subbing 2 days a week at another store that needs extra help, and they are very buisy, and its getting hard to keep up, but I do my best, and often out cook the people who work at the store .... but I am grtting bigger, slower and more worn down. I plan to work up until little man comes, as I haven't been working long enough to get maternity leave, so I will have only 2 weeks before I have to go back, or be terminated. I know I would be re hired, but I don't want to have to start over with my seniority. My plan was to slow down and drop my hours down to 10-15 a week in my last couple of weeks, but I don't know when I should do that. I feel like I should give my manager a heads up a week or two ahead of time, as well as the store I sub at, so they can plan accordingly.

How long did you ladies work, or continue to work full hours before you cut back if thats how you did it?

Hubby and I are in the process of purchasing a house, and I am despratly trying to get bills paid off/down before we sign the paperwork, and there will be furniture we need to buy for the new house, and I don't feel its fair to DH to just make him work and pay for the bills, new house, and everything we will need, so my paychecks are important as well... I just look at my ticker and realize how fast I am comming up on the 'baby could come at ANY time' mark, and its a little stressful TBH.

 

[MnGmakes3]

I also have a physically demanding job working at the hospital but Ive recently cut down my hours (one good thing about working per diem). It's getting so difficult to do the easiest things and I get winded so easy so I can totally relate with you.
I plan to work up until my leave on Oct 5th but till then I'm only working something like 30 hours a week, mostly just 4 or 8 hours shifts here and there.

It sad you only get 2 wks leave. Are you able to stay home a bit longer even though you might lose your job?

 

[paintrider89]

I also have a physically demanding job working at the hospital but Ive recently cut down my hours (one good thing about working per diem). It's getting so difficult to do the easiest things and I get winded so easy so I can totally relate with you.
I plan to work up until my leave on Oct 5th but till then I'm only working something like 30 hours a week, mostly just 4 or 8 hours shifts here and there.

It sad you only get 2 wks leave. Are you able to stay home a bit longer even though you might lose your job?

I could stay home longer, but I don't want to. I want the seniority and after I have been there a year I get to start bonuses and benifits, which would come in handy. I'm not worried about going back, its just the worry of how long I can keep up my current schedule now...

 

[MnGmakes3]

I also have a physically demanding job working at the hospital but Ive recently cut down my hours (one good thing about working per diem). It's getting so difficult to do the easiest things and I get winded so easy so I can totally relate with you.
I plan to work up until my leave on Oct 5th but till then I'm only working something like 30 hours a week, mostly just 4 or 8 hours shifts here and there.

It sad you only get 2 wks leave. Are you able to stay home a bit longer even though you might lose your job?

I could stay home longer, but I don't want to. I want the seniority and after I have been there a year I get to start bonuses and benifits, which would come in handy. I'm not worried about going back, its just the worry of how long I can keep up my current schedule now...

I would think you work with people who can understand how physically demanding everything gets on your body now. So what if you're moving at the same pace as a herd of turtles stampeding through peanut butter? Just take your time. We're almost there

 

[loeylo]

I'm 35 weeks and exhausted with work! I'm a teacher (11-18 year olds) so on my feet a lot. Although I did manage to cut my hours when schools went back (I was 31 weeks) to three days, I'm still working around 30 hours a week. I need to be up at 5:30 to do the dog walk before work, then it is a 1h 30 minute commute including a walk, a train and a bus. I then have the same journey home!

I plan on stopping at 38 weeks and taking off until January, then going back three days. It makes sense as my salary is good, but I really need to learn to drive ASAP!

 

[2have4kids]

I'm not in a physically demanding job but found even going for a walk yesterday I was having b&h contractions through my walk and into the afternoon. The baby has moved down and is very heavy. Not sure how I'd handle each day in a physically demanding job but in Canada if you're not able to do it you can apply for disability pay and then ei maternity leave when you deliver. I'll be working right up to my due date because I want the max time off with LO once he/she is here.

 

[icegurl470]

I worked full-time 40hrs/week right up until my due date with my first. I work in a research lab so I do a bunch of different things, some physical. I was lucky in that I carried really small and didnt have a lot of issues preventing me from doing my job. The last week I worked my boss and co-workers did most my physical work for me just as a kind gesture, never had to cut back my hours or go on restricted duty. I'm 34 weeks pregnant with my second, however, and struggling with the decision to cut back my hrs or see if I can be put on some sort of restricted duty. I've had SPD/pelvic pain since like 28 weeks, but starting last week I've also developed terrible lower back pain. Shooting pain on the lower right side whenever I take a step and stabbing pain whenever I bend or twist in any way.. It's really getting me down.. I work in a very team-oriented workplace and I tend to either be really bitchy or really depressed when I'm in pain and I'm worried one of these days I'm just going to snap. Financially I really don't think I could cut back my hours and I'm not sure what sort of light duty would really benefit me as it pretty much hurts to do anything.. So anyway I'm pretty much going through the same thing right now, it's tough trying to decide what to do. I'm basically just taking it day-by-day hoping that somehow it will get easier (even though I know I'm only getting more pregnant!) relying on my co-workers for help and hoping I can somehow manage until the end!

 

[lau86]

I do think it's sad how the USA ladies don't seem to be supported in maternity leave by their employers and the government. Personally I couldn't imagine going back to work at 2 weeks post partum, I was still sore and bleeding, trying to establish feeding, and quite emotional and tired.
Does no one else have baby brain? I don't have a physically demanding job but it is hard on my brain and I find myself doing stupid things lately. I'm going to stop around 37 weeks

 

[2have4kids]

I do think it's sad how the USA ladies don't seem to be supported in maternity leave by their employers and the government. Personally I couldn't imagine going back to work at 2 weeks post partum, I was still sore and bleeding, trying to establish feeding, and quite emotional and tired.
Does no one else have baby brain? I don't have a physically demanding job but it is hard on my brain and I find myself doing stupid things lately. I'm going to stop around 37 weeks

I totally have baby brain! I'll be speaking and can't think of a ridiculously simple word that I need. That's only the tip of the forgetfulness.

In America there are so many people who feel that universal health benefits, EI, maternity leave, holiday time are 'socialist' concepts. On fb they blame Obama for the terrible state of the universal healthcare not knowing how many concessions the democrats had to give just to pass the darn bill (which stripped the healthcare plan of really good working vices needed). Voting Republican to many means keeping gun rights and ensuring 'small gov't' which most think means less layers of gov't however is simply code word for scraping all social services used by lower & middle classes. It funnels exponential amounts of $$ up to the top.

I think people either need to get educated on how supporting healthcare, protecting women's jobs and livelihood with mat leave, holiday/rest/family time actually boosts a country's GDP and economic growth (seen in the rest of the world except for those countries entrenched in no healthcare/women's rights countries equally to America such as Papua New Guinea or Africa) or hit absolute rock bottom poverty and hardship before things will get better. It's great for shopping but not a place I'd ever live simply because of those values.

 

[MnGmakes3]

Health care here is disgusting. I can not believe only ONE company (Netflix) has gotten on board with paid mat leave. It just astonishes me how in this day the gov doesn't care.

 

[2have4kids]

Health care here is disgusting. I can not believe only ONE company (Netflix) has gotten on board with paid mat leave. It just astonishes me how in this day the gov doesn't care.

Hey I thought google gave good benefits too? The people in America HAVE to keep voting for change. As long as people like Trump, Palin, and Bush are popular with SOOO many Americans, the country will continue to go without. Even Hilary has voted in a very Republican manner during her time. I don't live in the US but from what we've seen Bernie Saunders seems to be the only guy who fully supports education, healthcare, women's rights, and wants to lessen income inequality. His policies are impressive and very similar to how Britain and Germany are run - two quite successful and strong countries for social justice issues. It would be great if Elizabeth Warren were his Vice!

There's a really great article on the problem with not supporting universal healthcare, equal opportunity, women's jobs and maternity benefits, and many issues facing America right now called Womenomics put out by the Economist. Google it for a good read. Very enlightening!

 

[BabyS14]

Im working up until 39 weeks. But for the last 2 weeks I lowered my hours from 40 to 30 hours. I get 3 months paid 100% maternity leave, plus any sick/vacation/floating holidays.

 

[paintrider89]

I worked full-time 40hrs/week right up until my due date with my first. I work in a research lab so I do a bunch of different things, some physical. I was lucky in that I carried really small and didnt have a lot of issues preventing me from doing my job. The last week I worked my boss and co-workers did most my physical work for me just as a kind gesture, never had to cut back my hours or go on restricted duty. I'm 34 weeks pregnant with my second, however, and struggling with the decision to cut back my hrs or see if I can be put on some sort of restricted duty. I've had SPD/pelvic pain since like 28 weeks, but starting last week I've also developed terrible lower back pain. Shooting pain on the lower right side whenever I take a step and stabbing pain whenever I bend or twist in any way.. It's really getting me down.. I work in a very team-oriented workplace and I tend to either be really bitchy or really depressed when I'm in pain and I'm worried one of these days I'm just going to snap. Financially I really don't think I could cut back my hours and I'm not sure what sort of light duty would really benefit me as it pretty much hurts to do anything.. So anyway I'm pretty much going through the same thing right now, it's tough trying to decide what to do. I'm basically just taking it day-by-day hoping that somehow it will get easier (even though I know I'm only getting more pregnant!) relying on my co-workers for help and hoping I can somehow manage until the end!

Sorry your having such a hard time :/

My co workers are way awesome, including doing all of my stocking of freight in my section and taking out heavy trash loads ect. My boss will let me sit if I am doibg something that allows me to be put for a while., so its not all bad

I should mention that I have a 16 month old as well, who is very active, and is a bit of a sleep fighter.