Pregnancy discrimination

[Savewaterdrinkgin]

Thanks for replying. No HR and my managers’ manager is also involved! If I bypassed them and went to head office I may aswell hand the keys to my house back to the agents as I’ll be sacked on the spot. They would find a reason to sack me that is unrelated to my pregnancy this is how awful the company and people are. The passive aggressiveness and blanking me is the biggest bug bear. I try and ignore it but the atmosphere is horrible. They all gossip about me and make it really obvious by looking in my direction while talking in a group. These are all parents who were also pregnant at some point during their employment with the company so you’d think they would have some understanding! I have a diary that I add to each day, I just hope I can find a way to leave without losing too much maternity pay before it gets worse.

 

[littlepup]

Thank you, it’s reassuring to know I’ll have legal support out there regardless of the outcome. I think so yes but not enough to survive on, I don’t know how people do it to be honest, my outgoings are higher than the basic rate so I’d prefer to avoid it

Definitely double check before you quit if you have any thoughts of doing so. You’d have to prove you had a good reason to quit or you might not get paid as much (which you do but it’s proving it). Citizens advice can tell you all of the things you need to do regarding the job, the unemployment benefits and the maternity pay implications, I’d give them a call first.

It’s also against the law to not employ someone because they are pregnant and you don’t have to declare it so you could try to find something else if you do have to leave. There are maternity pay implications based on how Many weeks before your due date you start so ask about that too.
https://maternityaction.org.uk is a good resource, they have an advice line

 

[Django]

This organisation might be useful, sadly a lot of women have been in your situation.

Home - Pregnant Then Screwed

pregnantthenscrewed.com

 

[Luisa18]

sorry it’s been another rubbish day. Just remember, they’re assholes and the law is on your side.

 

[Savewaterdrinkgin]

Thank you all, I’m finally finished after another horrible day so I’ll sit down and go through all the websites and details, really appreciate you all taking the time to help.

 

[Savewaterdrinkgin]

Thank you, I’m waiting for someone to call me back tomorrow to discuss so hopefully I’ll have a better idea of where I stand legally. Another 17 weeks of this nonsense then I’ll be free.

 

[Savewaterdrinkgin]

Yeah I plan to begin at 29 weeks. The sick note takes me up to 29 weeks. Hopefully then the fact they haven’t made any adjustments to my job or stuck to the risk assessment will go in my favour. I haven’t taken any time off before or given a reason for them to question my performance, but being the type of people they are I’m sure they’d be up for the fight. I’m guessing they’d need to give warnings or have proof of concerns before actually sacking me for time off even if it wasn’t pregnancy related?

 

[PinkPolkaDots]

Oh god that’s terrible, I can’t imagine how much stress this must be causing to you. I’m pleased (if that’s the right word!) that you’ve got a diary and have been recording their shitty behaviour.

They would need a strong case to sack you particularly as you are pregnant. Also if you’ve worked there over 2 years you do have employment rights as well. Although with discrimination cases the two year rule does not apply.

However, I know how shady some companies can be and this most definitely sounds like one!

Do contact ACAS and see what they suggest.

 

[Tifastrife]

No one got back to me unfortunately, I couldn’t speak to a real person so I left a message with a response that they would get back to me within 24 hours. I understand they’re likely all very busy though so I’ll be patient, but it’s getting worse each day. Thanks for checking in x

Did you hear anything back yet?

My work have been a nightmare. To start with they appeared supportive but cracks started to show. Rolling of the eyes when I asked to go to appointments, suggesting I was lying when I said the GTT was two hours long. From the start I’ve been transparent that I’d like to reduce my hours once baby is here and they were very understanding to start with and said they’d create a job share, they didn’t want to lose me etc. (This was in November). In January I was signed off with pregnancy related health issues for a couple of weeks before my maternity leave started. Their attitude completely changed. They have become so cold, rude and I felt like I was being interrogated whenever I phoned to update. They also suddenly said when my leave started that they don’t think they’ll be able to accommodate me coming back part time so I’ll be redeployed. This conversation shouldn’t even be happening yet until I put in my flexible request form in 12 weeks before I intend to return. Technically they haven’t done anything wrong yet, and the redeployment if they can’t accommodate your change in hours is company policy, but I do feel like the sudden change in attitude is punishing me for being unwell snd signed off. I’ve also had messages from colleagues saying they’ve been talking about it at work and saying there would be “no point” me coming back. I’ve worked there over 10 years so it’s been upsetting to hear. They shouldn’t be discussing it with my colleagues either surely it’s not their business??

They were really horrible about another colleague going off slightly early too (again due to health problems just a couple of weeks early) just total lack of empathy and understanding. What gets me is my bosses daughter just had her first child and was very unwell throughout the pregnancy. I just keep wondering how she would feel if it was her daughter being treated like this??

Sorry for the really long post, had to get it all out lol and wondering where I stand ??

 

[Luisa18]

I’m sorry your employer is acting so terribly. I would suggest speaking with ACAS (https://www.acas.org.uk/managing-yo...rimination-because-of-pregnancy-and-maternity) as they are not legally allowed to discriminate or bully you as pregnancy is a protected characteristic.

ETA: this is just one link from the search I did on their website, not necessarily their only advice.

I also suggest joining us in the tattle pregnancy board! We’re good for being a sounding board where needed!

 

[Savewaterdrinkgin]

I have the exact same problem at work, my manager is included though so I have no one to lean on for support there. They gossip about me and why I don’t speak to anyone, erm because you all blank me and make nasty comments if I need to sit down or have a drink! No one in their right mind makes effort with nasty people who lie and ignore them. The minute my mat leave begins I’m out of there without even saying bye!

 

[PinkPolkaDots]

Thank you you’ve really reassured me. I did have a basic risk assessment where I was told not to lift anything heavier than a bin bag. Considering it’s a very physical job I expected more from it, but as they’ve been bullying me I just dropped it for an easy life. They still expected me to do some heavy lifting by hinting at it but I didn’t. It’s a very passive aggressive environment so it’s such a relief to be out of it.

No problem you are clued up on the process anyway. I have a feeling they may be banking that you don’t hence their shitty behaviour.

Honestly I wish we could name and shame them because they sound more and more terrible!! I’m glad you’re out of there & hope you get your fit note sorted easily.

 

[PinkPolkaDots]

Sorry you are going through this, I’m assuming you have no HR on site?

Definitely contact ACAS they will advise you on next steps just make sure you tell them everything. Have you looked at raising a grievance? Appreciate you may not feel comfortable doing this though. In the mean time, get a notebook and write down every upsetting/harsh/mean etc comment your manager/colleagues says to you:
- what they said
- who said it
- who else was there
- location
- date
- time

Also if you’ve told your manager that a colleague has said something harsh to you, if the manager doesn’t follow up or laughs it off. Record that as well. I can’t stress enough how important it is to have evidence.

I really hope it gets better for you though, it always blows my mind how poor employers are when it comes to pregnancy/maternity!

ETA: if your direct manager is being a knobhead as well, could you not go to another manager or their line manager? (If you don’t have HR on site)

 

[overgrammers]

People are assholes, I started maternity leave early because a person in my job who constantly has an issue with various staff at one stage or another decided to tell my manager I wasn’t speaking to them, when in fact it was the other way round. This is gaslighting by a 60 something year old who would speak to me when there were ppl around and then ignore me if there was no one there?? Standing around making it obvious they were talking about me, with other staff who they were essentially bullying a couple of weeks before. Manager and area manager were aware of the situation and nothing was done so I left and had no contact. I think management started to panic asking if I wanted to “sort the issue out”
Nope! Not at 9 months pregnant when the situation has been ongoing for weeks. It’s not up to me if staff are bullying other people and need to be pulled up on it and you are aware of it.
Will not be returning to that work environment but will take my maternity and absolutely be bringing it up with H.R when leaving.
The galling thing is this person actually makes themselves out to be the victim!

 

[Begborrowsteal]

Thank you I will do tomorrow, it’s been going on for 2 months now. I’m pretty thick skinned but there’s only so much someone can take when it’s 5 against 1! I’ve only worked there for 6 months so I haven’t got much employment protection and I’m still in my probation period until April. I sometimes wonder if it would be easier if she sacked me, I’d hopefully get a pay out for unfair dismissal and never have to see them again! Wishful thinking I know

You have protection through maternity, so length of service doesnt matter.

Keep track of everything. Sometimes the threat of Acas is enough to make them behave or start a settlement process. Even without HR, they will be expected to follow Acas guidelines at the very least. You could raise a grievance based on maternity discrimination and bullying - unless they have proof that you've failed in your job (and can show you were given fair opportunity to address concerns and improve), they'd have little to defend against it being due to your pregnancy.

Also, worst case, would you be entitled to claim universal credit?

 

[PinkPolkaDots]

Hey, definitely get your GP to change the reason before submitting your fit note. If your absence doesn’t state it’s pregnancy related they will treat the absence as per their normal sickness absence procedure. So you do need it to specifically state that.

Just wanted to add, yes you are protected by the Equality Act 2010 because you’re pregnant however, that doesn’t mean an employer can’t sack you while pregnant. Don’t get me wrong it’s not exactly good practice and they would need to prove they’ve sacked you for a reason not related to your pregnancy. It’s not a straight forward process so they would need to follow strict guidelines. To be honest, I’d be surprised if they did consider sacking you given you’ll be on Mat leave soon. I’m assuming they offer statutory maternity pay?

I hope you’re feeling better, atleast you’re not stuck in there with them lot!

 

[Savewaterdrinkgin]

Thank you for your help I’ll get onto them tomorrow and possibly CAB too x

 

[littlepup]

Did you hear anything back yet?

My work have been a nightmare. To start with they appeared supportive but cracks started to show. Rolling of the eyes when I asked to go to appointments, suggesting I was lying when I said the GTT was two hours long. From the start I’ve been transparent that I’d like to reduce my hours once baby is here and they were very understanding to start with and said they’d create a job share, they didn’t want to lose me etc. (This was in November). In January I was signed off with pregnancy related health issues for a couple of weeks before my maternity leave started. Their attitude completely changed. They have become so cold, rude and I felt like I was being interrogated whenever I phoned to update. They also suddenly said when my leave started that they don’t think they’ll be able to accommodate me coming back part time so I’ll be redeployed. This conversation shouldn’t even be happening yet until I put in my flexible request form in 12 weeks before I intend to return. Technically they haven’t done anything wrong yet, and the redeployment if they can’t accommodate your change in hours is company policy, but I do feel like the sudden change in attitude is punishing me for being unwell snd signed off. I’ve also had messages from colleagues saying they’ve been talking about it at work and saying there would be “no point” me coming back. I’ve worked there over 10 years so it’s been upsetting to hear. They shouldn’t be discussing it with my colleagues either surely it’s not their business??

They were really horrible about another colleague going off slightly early too (again due to health problems just a couple of weeks early) just total lack of empathy and understanding. What gets me is my bosses daughter just had her first child and was very unwell throughout the pregnancy. I just keep wondering how she would feel if it was her daughter being treated like this??

Sorry for the really long post, had to get it all out lol and wondering where I stand ??

Are you UK based?

Honestly you ladies deserve a medal. These people you’re dealing with sound like absolute cunts!! (Sorry)
Record everything, their behaviour is disgusting! Sounds like pathetic people who have no control in their lives so want to shit on others’ happiness with the little authority they have. Very sad really.

 

[PinkPolkaDots]

Yeah I plan to begin at 29 weeks. The sick note takes me up to 29 weeks. Hopefully then the fact they haven’t made any adjustments to my job or stuck to the risk assessment will go in my favour. I haven’t taken any time off before or given a reason for them to question my performance, but being the type of people they are I’m sure they’d be up for the fight. I’m guessing they’d need to give warnings or have proof of concerns before actually sacking me for time off even if it wasn’t pregnancy related?

Ah ok it’s one fit note. Submit that to your employer and tell them in writing via email that it is pregnancy related and you are currently waiting for Gp to rectify and will send amended one across asap. In the mean time, ring the GP receptionist and ask them to leave a message with your Gp stating it needs to be corrected. Hopefully this process works at your GP practice!

Will reply shortly on your other Q

 

[Savewaterdrinkgin]

I haven’t come across a thread relating to pregnancy discrimination so thought I’d start one to ask beg for support and hear your stories.
I’m currently 12 weeks and since I told my manager at Christmas I have been bullied by her and my colleagues. I had to tell her early on as I work in a physical job and wanted a risk assessment done.
Some of the things that have happened just amount to childish playground behaviour, others have been pretty serious but hard to prove, it’s making each day very uncomfortable as no one speaks to me and I desperately want to quit already. The plan is to start maternity leave at 29 weeks when it can officially start but I don’t know how to hold on that long without going insane.
I know no job is worth the stress and unhappiness but I really need the SMP to survive. Can anyone point me in the direction of where I stand financially in each scenario please? If I was to quit could I bring a claim of constructive dismissal or would it be a case of relying on government support until maternity allowance kicks in? No one will employ me for the sake of a few months so I don’t think it would be simple to find a new job. Even if I get signed off sick with stress I’d only receive £99 a week maternity allowance!
Sorry for the rant, I’m not after sympathy, just to find a way to get through this so I don’t feel so alone and to help others if you’re in the same position.