I have a question I'm now 19 weeks pregnant only meant to be doing part time work 24 hours wrote a…
I have a question I'm now 19 weeks pregnant only meant to be doing part time work 24 hours wrote a letter my midwife thought the long 12 hour shifts was affecting the pregnancy and shouldn't continue I was doing 50 hours you have to come in half and hour earlier and you don't get paid for it so they only see it as 48. They do their rota. Saturday to Saturday and Sunday is a new week. The question I have is I have just worked last night (a 12 hour shift) and I'm exhausted I have also been put down for another night without my permission because a night carer is on holiday that I haven't complained about but I'm going to find this week tiring. Another carer was going to be working tonight but gave up the job before she started she was going to take the extra night I was meant to be doing. The carers who have been put down tonight one can do it and the other is a day carer who also worked this morning due to this she asked if she could go home to sleep ready for the night rather than do the morning as there were four day carers on today and all that was needed was three but it would management would have step down and become senior. Management didn't allow her to go home and sleep and she was required to stay. Now the day carer is going to call in sick and I'm the only carer that is available as the other carer if she was to do tonight this would mean five nights in a row and the other Carer can only work Friday's and Saturdays but I can't do it for two reasons, 1, this would mean I would be working five nights! And doing 60 hours which would be a risk to my pregnancy and 2, I'm ill I have a bug and therefore need 48 hours to recover ... But I'm worried they'll get angry with me or sack me help!
zara·
Can't you just tell them you can't do it? You don't want to be putting the baby under that stress, especially when the midwife has told you not to
Rebecca·
Yeah I can, but I feel so guilty they are a short staffed care home but I honestly can't do it it's not that I don't want too 12 hours is a long night and five of them in a week would make me very ill. I also have a bug which legally I can't come in close contact with vulnerable people for 48 hours which would mean I can't do tonight. They should of let the day carer go home this morning and rest they more than enough day carers and then there wouldn't of been a problem to cover tonight but now there is xxx
Anita Seabridge·
They can't sack you, have you had a risk assessment carried out ?? if not you need to ask for one, this should have been done as soon as they knew you was pregnant followed by making adjustment to ensure you or then baby are safe during the pregnancy. They have a duty if care to you x x what did they do when they recieved the midwife letter??
Rebecca·
There is a risk assessment in place and 12 hours was counted as a risk as its seen as long hours plus I don't get any breaks I'm always on my feet
Hollie sinead·
В ожидании первенца
They can't sack you or change your hours without your permission they always have to legally give you time to rest for 1-2 hours a day and you can NOT be sacked !
Rebecca·
Thank you Hollie :) I'm so exhausted during my night shift but I was sure I am entitled to take breaks at my work place
Anita Seabridge·
what have they done to counter the risk?? Not having breaks is illegal off the top of my head you should have 30 min break after 6 hours x you need to ask them to revisit the risk assessment in light of the letter from the midwife x x
Rebecca·
They are saying they have cut my hours to counter the risk of long working hours in agreement with me but they are not sticking to that agreement they are not providing breaks they are not cutting my hours but increasing them.
Rebecca·
I'm worried for my unborn baby this stress is not good them. We need rest xxx
Anita Seabridge·
You do need to rest x x my advice now would be to call ACAS and get advice from them x you need to get a copy of the risk assessment policy as well as the maternity policy they may be the same x it is a free advice line and they will be able to support you x you don't need the stress of working these hours without breaks they are breaking the law with that one x
Rebecca·
Thank you Hun xxxxxxxx
Stacey Marie·
Why do work cause so much hassle for pregnant women! Mine is a pain too. Hence why I've been put on the sick because I was at risk and so was my baby. Xx