Scared of losing my job

[Random]

Hey there everyone!

I am about 5-7 weeks pregnant, and i am really feeling it, im sick everyday, my body aches, i get really bad siatica (already) in my left leg, and my hips feel like are exploding.

I found out I was pregnant about two weeks after starting my new job (care assistant) and recently i have had quite alot of days off because of how i feel all the time, i feel like work is getting abit angry at me, getting fed up of the time im having off, but i work in a care home so i dont really want to be hoisting somone around with bad legs, and a baby to look out for.
I'm just really afraid im going to lose my job as im still on probation (it last for 6 months).

Also im getting alot of pressure of everyone even my boyfriend (he also has a job), everyone is worried my going to lose my job, because we rent a flat.


I just dont know what to do anymore, just wondering if any one has been through this or going through it

x

 

[Amanda N]

Hiya

I had the same problems when I fell pregnant. I had only worked there for a couple of months when I found out I was pregnant and it didn't go down too well with my boss.

I was constantly running to the ladies to be sick, which annoyed them as I was supposed to be taking calls all day. And to top it off I had a car accident at 13 weeks pregnant which resulted in time off and as a result I suffered difficult pregnancy and kept being forced to have time off for the sake of my baby.

They moved me into a different department and I ended up doing filing and other meanial tasks.

They kept me on probation until my final day before I left on maternity leave. They were awful to me.

I constantly worried I was going to be fired.

I didn't go back, just got a part time job when I was ready to work again.

You do have rights and it would be worth making enquiries to see where you stand. ACAS tel 08457 474747 may be able to help and there is also Equality human rights tel 08456046610. I didn't know about these organisations when I was in your position.

I hope this helps.

Xxx

 

[sw121]

They cannot penalise you for pregnancy related sickness, or anything else related to your pregnancy. So they would not be able to sack you for taking time off sick for pregnancy related illness and they cannot extend your probationary period for pregnancy related reasons. This is direct sex discrimination and you can take legal action against them if they did this.

They may "find" other reasons to terminate your employment though, so I think you need to be clear with them whenever you need time off sick that it is pregnancy related and document any comments, etc, that cause you concern - e.g. if you manager makes comments about your pregnancy, the amount of time you need off, the fact you've not been there long etc. If they try to terminate your employment for other reasons, then they need to have evidence to show they are justified in that decision.

It's really sad that you have to do this, but discrimination against women who are pregnant or have young children is still common in this country. I experienced it in the job I had when I was pregnant - it was like they couldn't wait to get rid of me and they used my request to work part-time as their way in - they declined it, knowing full well I would have to leave as a result - and that was in the NHS, which is meant to be a flexible employer!