I'm sorry you're going through so much drama and added medical complications at the mo.
I think the advice all the other girls have given you is correct. However, what I would say as a manager of a small charity, as lovely as it was when staff fell pregnant, it was also a big headache as an employer because we had to find extra funds to cover maternity posts (effectively paying two salaries when we had limited funds anyway), and also, it sounds terrible to say, but pregnant women understandably slow down and work output decreases so others have to pick up the slack. We also had an employee return to work from maternity leave pregnant once and the whole staff team, whilst happy for our colleague, were a little apprehensive about having to cover again. It was a teeny bit of an extra burden for everyone to carry.
The best way to handle such a situation is to of course assert your rights as tactfully as possible, but also show your employer and colleagues that you are doing your absolute best to minimise disruption/ inconvenience to them. eg that you are taking appointments that minimise time off work and that you are putting extra effort in to get your tasks done. If you are demonstrating this commitment, it will be much easier to work through these issues without having to resort to legal action etc. If your staff team get the impression that you are treating the job as a priority very low down the list, they're reluctantly going to start to resent you. If, on the other hand, you give the impression that you're doing your best, they will willingly help you to slow down and take tasks on for you: nobody likes to see a pregnant lady doing too much if you know what i mean.
I hope you dont mind me giving an alternative perspective on this and I hope the issue resolves amicably. Best of luck.
Thank you! It's good to hear it from another perspective also.
The one thing I will say though is that my work doesnt suffer whislt I'm pregnant, for definate. I have been changed to an admin role and all I do is answer the phones! All day every day. I work with one other girl who has also been brought in to cover maternity leave. This means that me coming back to work pregnant after mat leave has affected no-one other than my direct manager for some reason.
I do only take appointments when necesdsary. I would love to go to aquanatal that you actually are allowed time off for but I would never suggest this to my manager as she is so mean about normal midwife and consultant appointments. Also I thought taking an appointment in a day I was already out of the office would minimise disruption as it would mean I didnt have to leave for another few hours on a different day.
It's difficult due to me working so far from where I live, therefore where all my appointments are, and not driving. It means I do have to have some extra time off to travel. I wouldnt care if they didnt pay me for this but for them to be horrible about it is what upsets me.
I think that any organisation, small or large, hiring a woman in her 20 and 30's should be prepared for the possibility that they may get pregnant. I was hired at 29 with no children and within 2 years I have 1 and another on the way.
xxx
I feel like death not even warmed up!
