so uncomfortable what would you do?

Question

i am 29 weeks, i am petite, 4'11 92 lbs pre pregnancy 121 now, i have a job that involves sitting on a computer all day, we recently got a new policy on break time we have certain times during the day we can go (assigned) i get into work at 6am i take lunch at 11:30 and my scheduled break time is 1:10-1:30 so basically for the first at least 4 hours i am here i am not allowed up (except to use the bathroom, limit on those too) anyway i havent been able to get comfortable all day my back hurts, my legs hurt my feet hurt, i feel like crying i just want to get up and move around. i talked to one of the "big" managers and asked about taking a walk and she said its against policy to bend the rules for one person, so i asked if i got a doctors note would that work and she said she would have to take it up with higher managers and get back to me. what should i do, this cant be legal can it? i am seriosly about to cry! HELP

Addition: Kitty
its funny you mention that because i am planning on looking for a new job while i am on maternity leave, but until then this is what i have to deal with. :( thanks for everyones answers i appricitate the understanding!

Answer 1

I would go to HR. This is a very reasonable request. If they will not accommodate, I would start looking for another job after the baby is born and your leave expires. That is definitely non-family friendly or even basical businesswise.

What a bad impression that must leave on other employees too!

Answer 2

I think that you should get a doctors note and have it taken up with the higher management. It doesn't sound right to me. Talk to your human resource person and see if they can help. Can you stand up at your desk and stretch and maybe just walk around your cubicle a little? I know how uncomfortable you must be. With my first pregnancy I worked a job where I sat all day and it was harder than being on my feet all day. You really need a balance. I used to stand at my desk when I was on the phone it helped to alternate standing and sitting, but if you can't reach your keyboard that won't help because bending over would probably hurt your back. I would also ask your doctor about the bathroom thing. It's not good for you to hold it if you need to go. Good luck.

Answer 3

Get a doctor's note. By LAW, they have to accomodate you if a doctor says you have to do this.

I am very surprised by their lack of understanding. Most work places are happy to accomodate someone that is pregnant. You are going to be more productive when you are comfortable and happy than you will be miserable and close to tears.

What else you can do? Get a chair massage pad, a small foot stool with a small pillow. Also you may not be able to walk around, but there is no rule against you standing up and stretching out for a moment or two. If they are not willing to afford you the time to walk around and relieve your discomfort, then make them accomodate you. They have to by federal law, allow you to work, and they have to make the accomodations for you to do so unless a doctor says you can't work. See, the Americans with Disabilities Act dictates an employer can't discriminate due to a disability, and they must be able to accomodate a person with disabilities if they are able to do the work. The bonus for women is that the law sees pregnancy as a disability, so you can inform them you need a foot stool, and a different chair to accomodate you. If they refuse, I would visit the HR department and inform them of the situation. I am certain they will inform your supervisors of the error in their ways, for if the supervisors don't want a huge lawsuit on their hands, not to mention federal fines, they will help you out.

But get that doctor's note about being able to walk around and break once in a while.

Good luck!!

Answer 4

are you allowed to just stand up at your desk? I would try doing that just to help keep some blood flow moving toward your legs and feet. Also, try doing some leg stretches/exercises while you're sitting down, that might help relieve some of the pain. I'm sorry you have to go through that, but I'm sure there is something you can do to get some help. I would definitely get a doctor's note, or start taking some time off.

Answer 5

Go directly to the higher managers. This may be legal, but it certainly doesn't sound like the attitude of a respectable employer. On second thought, it probably isn't legal. You have to be given at least a 15 minute break every four hours unless you are a salaried management employee.

Answer 6

There are special circumstances for pregnant women at any job. You should not have to get a doc's note but i would and legally there is nothing they can do about it. You are to do what makes you comfortable but don't take advantage of it. Your doctor can make out a list of daily requirements for your job and they HAVE to let you do it or you can take legal action on them.
Also to help, bring something to cushion your chair a little better, a pillow or something. But yes it is good for you to get up and move a little.

Answer 7

No, if you are pregnant you should not be sitting, and as a rule employers MUST make exceptions for you, especially if your doctor write a letter to your employer.
Women are sometimes seen as easier to push around because they are women, but you need to make it clear to not only your boss, but HER boss, that you can not be sitting like that for hours on end.
Request a five-minutes walk to take during each hour, etc, or whatever the doctor recommends.
Don't let them push you around!

Answer 8

thank you I truthfully have in many circumstances questioned a similar subject. All that stuff seems uncomfortable, they save moving it. How do they go their legs. I nonetheless can`t recover from how all that works. now and lower back it gets lost then it lower back bigger than existence,And don`t even start up on what happens to them while it gets chilly. I observed a shaggy dog tale as quickly because it stated," the full worldwide is a mans urinal."purely adult males could hang them off the lower back of their automobiles.

Answer 9

You are pregnant...so the rules are different for you!

Get the doctor's note and talk to HR. They HAVE to help you because they could have a lawsuit over this!

Don't let them bully you! You have the right to get up and move around if you're pregnant. Good luck!

Answer 10

That's crap. Get the doctor's note - make sure you make a copy to keep for your records. Go to your HR department. They can't do that to you, especially if you have a doctor's note stating that you need to walk for like 5 minutes every hour or something. That would piss me off, I think I would quit before I had the baby.
Thank God you're looking for another job.
I feel for you!
Good luck!