Pregnancy and work

[LisaBurton]

I advised my employers that I was pregnant on wednesday last week and as I had suffered a miscarriage in jan this year asked that stress and travel be kept to a minimum to give me a good chance of keeping this baby ( I'm only 6 wks+3 days pregnant). To mu surprise I was told on Tuesday this week that my work load was to be increased by approx 6 days worth over a month and only approx 4 hours work would be taken away from me. This caused untold amounts of stress and the result on Tuesday was a migraine and me spending the evening in bed. I still felt stressed on we'd but had a meeting with my team leader where I was then told that hopefully part of the new work would be contracted out, I raised my concerns re stress again and was told I needed to remind him of my situation! I am now back and forth to the hospital with a suspected miscarriage. Can I take any action?? Pls help.

[Sapphire]

Re: Pregnancy and work

Take a look here http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/...ts/DG_10026556

[bluebottle]

Re: Pregnancy and work

What sort of working environment are in? Your employers have acted in a reckless, irresponsible and, possibly, criminal manner by doing what they did, knowing what they did. At the very least, it is, on the face of it, a potentially-serious breach of Section 2, Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (Failing to Ensure the Safety of an Employee). I have no doubt that other LBs with more knowledge and experience in Employment Law than myself will advise you further.

This needs to be reported to Health and Safety, but it is your working environment that will determine whether it is local authority Health and Safety Inspectors you need to speak to or inspectors from one of the HSE's Inspectorates.

[Hurricane Puffrose]

Re: Pregnancy and work

firstly, you need a medical proffessional to instruct your employer to lift the stress from you.

I had my midwife write a note saying I was pregnant and aware of my legal rights etc, scared my boss silly.
You are within your rights to refuse the stress you are under, I would suggest raising a grievance. NOTHING ON EARTH MATTERS BUT YOUR HEALTH. if your boss starts about you letting the side down etc, the only side you need to be on is your babys.

Have your doctor/specialist contact the head office and demand they protect you.

Are you in a union?
What line of work are you in?
Have they organised a risk assesment?

[bluebottle]

Re: Pregnancy and work

I've had another look at your post, Lisa. I note that you have a history of miscarriage. If your boss knew this before you told him of your current pregnancy and the precautions you were required to take, the response to this, i.e. increasing your hours and workload, means that he/she is in very serious trouble if you have suffered a miscarriage as is suspected. Please, please get in touch with Health and Safety Inspectors and tell them what is going on.