Employer Accommodations

brittanispears

Have any of your employers taken the time to make a work plan for you? If your job is high stress, have they lightened your load? 

My boss says that he's willing to accommodate my needs but he keeps piling the work and the pressure on. Since about my second month of pregnancy, I've had the hardest time focusing at work. It sucks because I'm a writer and I have tight deadlines. I find myself working on one piece for a week, which pre-pregnancy, would have only taken me two days TOPS to complete. I'm stressed and worried.

vamomtobe

I'd consider my workplace to be very family-friendly - flexible work schedules, comfort room with lockers for pumps and a sink, understanding supervisors.  I would say though that there's an expectation that I'll keep up with my work, which does tend to be fast-paced and stressful.  I haven't heard of work plans for pregnant women, or lighted loads (that would just mean more work for others and that wouldn't be fair).

For me, I do have moments where my memory lapses, or when I can't focus, but I haven't had that problem to the same extent it sounds like you have.  That's rough!  I don't think a supervisor should or necessarily can accept less or lower quality work from an expecting mother though, unless there's a physical limitation.  But I get that stress and horomones are having an actual effect on how you get your work done.  You are growing a person, after all!

Maybe try to find a place to work where you can focus more easily - maybe there are too many distractions at work, and working from home you can accomplish more (or vice versa).  Or if you have flexibility in your hours, see if there are certain times of the day where you can really get in a groove and get it done.  If I need to crank through something, I listen to repetitive, beat-driven instrumental music.  Or go for a walk/run first, I tend to be really focused after getting some exercise.  Those are some random ideas, may not be useful at all.  And know that you do have rights as a pregnant woman in the workplace, and defend yourself if necessary.

brittanispears

vamomtobe said:

Maybe try to find a place to work where you can focus more easily - maybe there are too many distractions at work, and working from home you can accomplish more (or vice versa).  Or if you have flexibility in your hours, see if there are certain times of the day where you can really get in a groove and get it done.  If I need to crank through something, I listen to repetitive, beat-driven instrumental music.  Or go for a walk/run first, I tend to be really focused after getting some exercise.  Those are some random ideas, may not be useful at all.  And know that you do have rights as a pregnant woman in the workplace, and defend yourself if necessary.

@vamomtobe Thank you for the suggestions! I find that I work better when I'm not in the office. I've actually had the same experience while I was in college. Doing a paper in the library wasn't good for me. Working from home with music playing int he background helped me. I'm actually working on a proposal for my boss to see if he'll ponder over allowing me to work from home on certain days. I honestly feel like that would improve my productivity because I wouldn't feel like I'm being surveilled constantly.