I'm 8 wks pregnant & have just had 2 weeks off work. First week I was on holidays, but last week I was terribly ill & couldn't come to work. I'm back work today, not my usual happy self, but hanging in there & working to the best of my ability. My boss who I have a fabulous relationship with has just suggested offering me a package to finish up soon! I didn't expect that at all & am shocked by his response. He is a very good boss, extremely sensitive & sympathetic, however, this reaction has surprised me. He then backtracked & offered to try & work something out. I'm a personal assistant & so he relies on me very heavily & said I was greatly missed over the last 2 weeks. He feels that my position needs more "certainty" and the fact that I've been so sick & don't know how much longer I'll be sick for, leaves the position very uncertain & he wonders if me training someone in preparation for me going part time or finish up altogether would be best. Help? Thoughts?
2006-09-10 15:20:05 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
See that the tricky thing he isn't wanting to "fire" me he's offering a "package" to finish up OR try and find a more "certain" replacement and have me go part time. I explained that the first trimester is the worst and maybe we can reevaluate then. I didn't expect to be even having this conversation or being asked to make this decision.
2006-09-10 15:28:53 · update #1
Package to finish up, firing, it is all the same thing except he can't get sued. He is still being a jerk. Nope, it is against the law to fire someone for being pregnant, or for suffering some pregnancy related absences. It is totally up to you if you want to take his offer. I wouldn't especially if you had health insurance thru the job. You say you have a great relationship! How's that :when you become pregnant and have one sick week, he wants to oust you. And he wants you to train your replacement? I wonder what happenned to his sensitivity?
2006-09-10 15:24:32 · answer #1 · answered by Rachel☺ 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It's understandable. If you were in his shoes, someone you heavily rely on all of a sudden cannot be as reliable, and of course HAVE TO go on maternity leave soon. Won't you look for alternatives? If he is not trying to fire you, I think he is justified in his actions. I actually have seen pregnant women getting laid off. That is perfectly legal, as long as they are not doing it ONLY because you are pregnant. They cannot lay you off/fire you WHILE you are on maternity leave. The FMLA laws just say that they have to keep a position for you, not necessrily the same position.
You do need to start think about what YOU want after you have the baby, full time, part time? I know 8 weeks is very early, but these are things you need to consider.
2006-09-10 22:46:01 · answer #2 · answered by mom_of_ndm 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was mentioned above, but.... yes, document everything. Write everything down, print out emails, anything to do with this situation. Try like heck to limit your sick time, and get paperwork from your OB saying that any sick time was completely merited. Is there a human resources person in your company that you can talk with? You need to talk with someone who thoroughly knows the ins and outs of FMLA!
Try to come up with a "package" of your own and discuss it with your boss. Something that involves finding and training a temp replacement for your maternity leave, but also an arrangement that lets you come back when you're done.
Good luck, this is a horrible situation that he's put you in!
2006-09-11 01:36:43 · answer #3 · answered by clueless: please be kind 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Something very similar happened to me in my first pregnancy. I had been given extra responsibilities and then when I got pregnant I got overwhelmed. When I asked for help figuring out my schedule the solution I was given was to cut my hours in half and ban me from working at the front desk (where I had worked for over a year.) And it just so happened that the day they wanted my cut hours to start a new girl was starting!
You might be better off looking for a new job. Your boss doesn't seem very sensitive to your needs. You can be a valued asset to your job even if you are pregnant. You could have spent a week at home sick even if you weren't pregnant. Either stand your ground and insist on keeping your position or find something better.
2006-09-10 22:26:08 · answer #4 · answered by S. O. 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You cannot be fired while you're pregnant. If he offered you a package, it will probably interfere with your maternity leave money.
However I can see his point of view, the business must go on
and if you're really that sick, you might want to train someone to cover for you on a part time basis, she'll can be there when you're on mat leave, but the position needs to stay open for your return and I am sure your boss knows that.
2006-09-10 22:29:18 · answer #5 · answered by Mightymo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's discrimination! I'd be flaming mad were I you! Write down everything he's said to you and everything he says to you from here on out along with date and time... He may be extremely sympathetic and sensitive but apparently not towards pregnant women! If he tries to fire you, or to get you out you have legal recourse... DOCUMENT EVERYTHING!
2006-09-10 22:26:16 · answer #6 · answered by annathespian 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are in the US look at the FMLA rules and see if they apply to you.
2006-09-10 22:26:26 · answer #7 · answered by Niche Jerk 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
legally, I don't think that he can do that just because you are pregnant . . you might want to consult a lawyer, just to be sure of what your rights are . . .
2006-09-10 22:29:19 · answer #8 · answered by ♥LoisLane♥ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋