Good morning. I am reading these posts with interest. I cover 3 factories and as soon as the ladies become pregnant they ask for lighter shifts and automatically are given a chair so that they can take breaks as they like. Many ladies from first pregnant see their GP and we have even had midwives recommending the ladies do not lift more than 3kg even though no medical issues reported at 7 weeks. HR advise me that if they do not allow the adaptions thus reducing percieved risk then the ladies can be off work fully paid until after the pregnancy. Is this correct? Surely the risks in these cases need to be something more than just the spaed of a line or their ability to only lift 3kg. I find this area very confusing especially as some work full role until they have maternity leave. Any advice would be most appreciated. The main workers who request reduced duties are portugueese or polish. Thanks as always.
------Original Message------
From: Sonia Remic
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ReplyTo: Occupational Health mailing list
Subject: Re: [OCC-HEALTH] Pregnancy
Sent: 2 Apr 2012 10:14
Hello,
I've been reading your posts with interest, especially as I am an ex midwife. From what I gather it appears this lady has common ailments associated with pregnancy ( eg swollen ankles) and it sounds like she has no real medical condition that prevents her from working.
Sadly a lot of women medicalise what is normal in the latter weeks of pregnancy. Her GP advising she reduce her working hours as probably made this whole situation worse. Out of interest has her GP given a medical reason she needs to reduce her working hours?
If I was the OHA dealing with this I may ask if I can approach the lady's GP and chat about the reason for the recommendation. If there is no real medical reason ( eg pre eclampsia or other complication) I would be reluctant to support reduced working hours for the sake of it. After all this lady can now go on maternity leave as she is past 29 weeks if she is finding work hard.
Good luck, it sounds like you have an interesting case.
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