Pregnancy in the workplace
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Discussion

PugwasHDJ80

Original Poster:

7,675 posts

250 months

Wednesday 9th May 2012
quotequote all
Wifey's pregnant.

Her works being difficult and making her very unhappy. She is being as accomodating as possible (far past the point where she is legally obliged to).

problem- small company, she works for boss.

I'm tired of her coming home in tears (unlike her).

Would you take positive action, start a complaints process which may eventually lead to an ACAS claim and her losing her job,

or put up with it?

FWIW i was self employed for years and have a lot of sympathy for small businesses with pregnant employees. on the other hand, they haven't met any of their legal responsibilities, nor shown any inclination that they are likely to meet them!

V8mate

45,899 posts

218 months

Wednesday 9th May 2012
quotequote all
Has she had a formal chat with her boss? When I say formal, I simply mean sitting down specifically to discuss this matter.

PugwasHDJ80

Original Poster:

7,675 posts

250 months

Wednesday 9th May 2012
quotequote all
V8mate said:
Has she had a formal chat with her boss? When I say formal, I simply mean sitting down specifically to discuss this matter.
been tried, boss either shouts, or says he hasn't got the time- neither of which are productive nor fair!

slow_poke

1,855 posts

263 months

Wednesday 9th May 2012
quotequote all
PugwasHDJ80 said:
been tried, boss either shouts, or says he hasn't got the time- neither of which are productive nor fair!
Suggest she starts working to rule then, see how much of that he can take befre cracking.

Soovy

35,829 posts

300 months

Wednesday 9th May 2012
quotequote all


She's untouchable.

Tell her to speak to the boss.


rog007

5,828 posts

253 months

Wednesday 9th May 2012
quotequote all
Boss sounds stressed, your Lady is obviously stressed, therefore unlikely to be able to resolve this satisfactorily. Time for mediation? http://findlaw.co.uk/law/employment/problems_at_wo...
Good luck!

davepoth

29,395 posts

228 months

Wednesday 9th May 2012
quotequote all
Soovy said:
She's untouchable.

Tell her to speak to the boss.
This. He is plainly unaware of how much trouble he could be in if this gets to be official, it seems like a sensible idea to let him know, in a non-confrontational way. Does the company have any HR resource?

Soovy

35,829 posts

300 months

Wednesday 9th May 2012
quotequote all
davepoth said:
Soovy said:
She's untouchable.

Tell her to speak to the boss.
This. He is plainly unaware of how much trouble he could be in if this gets to be official, it seems like a sensible idea to let him know, in a non-confrontational way. Does the company have any HR resource?
fk me this is bad enough without HR!

hehe


davepoth

29,395 posts

228 months

Wednesday 9th May 2012
quotequote all
Soovy said:
fk me this is bad enough without HR!

hehe
A fair point. biggrin

Seriously though, it sounds like the boss has lost perspective. If there's someone he pays attention to that could tell him to stop being a prat because it's going to cost him thousands, it might be a good idea.

Big E 118

2,468 posts

198 months

Wednesday 9th May 2012
quotequote all
How's the boss being unreasonable?

If she's pregnant and hasn't taken leave yet there isn't a lot she's entitled to yet apart from time off for antenatal check ups?

I'm just interested as I own a small business and one of my staff is pregnant. Yes it's a pain financially but as far as I can see the rules laid out are fairly straight forward for both employer and employee.

PugwasHDJ80

Original Poster:

7,675 posts

250 months

Wednesday 9th May 2012
quotequote all
things that have changed since telling him we're pregnant:

won't allow time off for antenatal- had to have a formal notification in writing before agreeing- wouldn't check they rules himself "up to us to prove"

wife no longer allowed to work from home- started the week she told him, never previously been a problem, only person in company not allowed to work from home

previously supported CPD, and grudgingly agreed this time, on proviso that she doesn't just "bugger off" as soon as baby is born

now told us that we have to tell them in writing within ext 24 hours when wife will be off for maternity, for how long, and whether she'll be returning full time. its stil 7 weeks before we actually have to tell them anything.
these things might sound a bit petty- but its mixed into a whoel atmosphere of anger and unfriendliness for no particular reason- Mrs P still gets all her work done and tehn does other peoples on top!

oh and don't get me started that she's still going out for long drives to see potentially violent clients as the "first point of contact" for the company.......

problem is that if we kick off, we can't afford to lose Mrs Ps wage (a good post grad salary), and having been there 6 (i think) years how hard would it be to find another job?

Gargamel

16,344 posts

290 months

Wednesday 9th May 2012
quotequote all
keep a proper record of conversations, notes, letters, emails any differences in treatment etc.

she should speak to him directly and ask why she isn't allowed to work from home ?

sounds like his plan is to make her resign.

V8mate

45,899 posts

218 months

Wednesday 9th May 2012
quotequote all
Gargamel said:
sounds like his plan is to make her resign.
Perfect. That'll bring a nice windfall on top of her maternity pay.

Nigel Worc's

8,121 posts

217 months

Wednesday 9th May 2012
quotequote all
This stuff is why I'd always seek to avoid employing women.

Someone is employed to do a job, why should an employer have to pick up the tab because their workforce wish to breed ?

V8mate

45,899 posts

218 months

Wednesday 9th May 2012
quotequote all
Nigel Worc's said:
This stuff is why I'd always seek to avoid employing women.

Someone is employed to do a job, why should an employer have to pick up the tab because their workforce wish to breed ?
That's not really the argument here. I don't like the speed limit set at 70mph either, but we have to live within the laws we're provided with.

slow_poke

1,855 posts

263 months

Thursday 10th May 2012
quotequote all
Nigel Worc's said:
This stuff is why I'd always seek to avoid employing women.

Someone is employed to do a job, why should an employer have to pick up the tab because their workforce wish to breed ?
Because their kids will be taxpayers when you're a pensioner depending on the NHS. They'll be squaddies defending Crown & Country for you. Maybe one of them will make the breakthrough that finds the cure for your hitherto incurable disease that you'll develope. Or maybe they'll just be some farmers amongst them, producing the food on your plate. Or coppers, keeping law and order in your society whilst you're asleep in bed. Possibly just light entertainers, giving you something to while away the days watching and listening to.

Kids are worth investing in.

davepoth

29,395 posts

228 months

Thursday 10th May 2012
quotequote all
On the plus side, the government is set to fix the problem once and for all - Maternity and Paternity leave get bunged into a pool which both parents can share. That way employers will refuse to employ anyone. smile

PugwasHDJ80

Original Poster:

7,675 posts

250 months

Thursday 10th May 2012
quotequote all
Nigel Worc's said:
This stuff is why I'd always seek to avoid employing women.

Someone is employed to do a job, why should an employer have to pick up the tab because their workforce wish to breed ?
if you read my first post you will notice that i say i'm self employed and have quite come sympathy - i used to emlpy 100 people, half of who were women!

BUT, i alwaysaccepted that people were going to have kids, and would need time off work. This isn't about money- but it is about quality of life!

anonymous-user

83 months

Thursday 10th May 2012
quotequote all
Gargamel said:
keep a proper record of conversations, notes, letters, emails any differences in treatment etc.

she should speak to him directly and ask why she isn't allowed to work from home ?

sounds like his plan is to make her resign.
This. Tell her to work strictly to rule and keep a record of every comment, conversation, e-mail etc. Try and arrange a formal meeting to discuss her grievances, if at that point she is making no progress then it's time to get legal.

I am an employer, I don't like the maternity rules but I have no option to accept them.

marcosgt

11,496 posts

205 months

Thursday 10th May 2012
quotequote all
Nigel Worc's said:
This stuff is why I'd always seek to avoid employing women.

Someone is employed to do a job, why should an employer have to pick up the tab because their workforce wish to breed ?
So who would you have to send up chimneys if there were no kids, eh?

I'm amazed you had the front to post such utter tripe, really.

Give us a shout if you get bored there in the 19th century.

M