Feeling a little guilty?

nessahm

So I work for a big firm that requires working between 11-14 hours a day during certain periods of the year. During those periods of the year, I work with a team and we collaborate to get the work done by our given deadline. My job does get stressful during that time. Because I have a thyroid and pituitary adenoma condition, my endocrinologist doesn?t think I should work more than 40 hours a week. She also thinks that I should decrease my stress level - obviously, this is a must for any pregnant woman. I spoke to my HR manager yesterday and explained the situation and she was extremely understanding. She reached out to my team partner and manager right away and told them that I can't work more than 8 hours a day due to a medical condition (she did not tell them I'm pregnant as she wants me to wait a few more months to tell them myself). Both the partner and manager were also understanding.

 

I'm so happy and so lucky that they are so willing to accommodate me and be so flexible but now I'm starting to feel very guilty about asking to leave early when the rest of my team has to stay until late at night having to pick up my slack. It's making me feel awful, lazy, and worthless. At the same time, I pray that this baby is healthy and I am willing to do anything to make sure he or she is okay. Any one else have to go through this?

ABAMom

Not exactly the same, but we typically work between 12 - 16 hour days. Its tough, but I just try to hang in there and collapse once I get home. I think my boss would understand if I left early, but I would have to make my hours up eventually anyway.

Jennicap

No offense but if I were you and feeling guilty I wouldn't be posting on the boards, I would work my butt off during the 8 hours I'm at work to try and make less work for the other team members,

Ciconrad

Jennicap:

No offense but if I were you and feeling guilty I wouldn't be posting on the boards, I would work my butt off during the 8 hours I'm at work to try and make less work for the other team members,

She may get a lunch break here or there.  Calm down.

Anyways, I was in a sort of similar situation when I was pregnant with my son....expected to work a minimum 55 hour weeks (it was usually closer to 70 hours) from Jan-April (I was a CPA), which meant everyone stayed until 8 or so at night and ordered in crap food for lunch and dinner (which I didn't think was good for my baby) and worked a lot of Saturday.  Shortly before I got pregnant, because of other health issues, I had gone to a reduced schedule of 70%, which also involved a 30% pay cut.  I only worked Mon - Thur from 7-6 and not at all on Fridays.  Even though I was getting paid less, I still felt like people forgot that fact and were annoyed when I packed up and left at 6.  You probably aren't going to change that fact. 

WHen you feel guilty just keep in mind you are doing what is best for you and your baby right now.  Your priorities have shifted and for the time being are on your growing family and not your job.  It is not YOUR issue that others may be annoyed by this.  Just give 100% while you are there.  Luckily, my manager brought on some extra help so my team members weren't left doing everything I couldn't do so hopefully your managers will do the same!

nessahm

Jennicap: Well lets see, A: that certain busy period I was talking about has not started yet. B: I always work my butt off which is why the people who I work with are so great and willing to be very flexible with me. C: Even during really busy times, it is impossible to stare at your work on the computer screen 24/7 because you run the risk of bypassing mistakes so it is important  to remove yourself for a couple of minutes. D: The purpose of this board is to provide and obtain helpful information and advice to and from other women who are experiencing similar issues.

Thank you for your advice.

emily0829

vaness1229:

Jennicap: Well lets see, A: that certain busy period I was talking about has not started yet. B: I always work my butt off which is why the people who I work with are so great and willing to be very flexible with me. C: Even during really busy times, it is impossible to stare at your work on the computer screen 24/7 because you run the risk of bypassing mistakes so it is important  to remove yourself for a couple of minutes. D: The purpose of this board is to provide and obtain helpful information and advice to and from other women who are experiencing similar issues.

Thank you for your advice.

Don't let her get to you.

I understand you feeling guilty, but you also have to take into consideration that this is what is best for you baby. If something were to go wrong (heaven forbid, and I pray it doesn't!) you would instantly wish that you would have slowed down. Think of it that way, it may help with the guilty feelings. Do what you can, and I think that when they find out what is going on, they may be quite understanding as well. It doesn't sound like you're using the PG as an excuse to slack off. GL!

nessahm

Thanks ladies - you guys are awesome!

Jennicap

Ladies don't let your hormones get the best of you, I didn't mean any offense but the obvious thing if your feeling guilty don't take down time, work harder. I never said you didn't work hard to begin with. I understand that the hormones are raging but no need to jump down my throat for being Mr.Obvious.

Qmommy

Jennicap:

Ladies don't let your hormones get the best of you, I didn't mean any offense but the obvious thing if your feeling guilty don't take down time, work harder. I never said you didn't work hard to begin with. I understand that the hormones are raging but no need to jump down my throat for being Mr.Obvious.

vaness1229 - don't respond!  Let it go!  It sounds like her hormones are getting the best of her right now and is annoyed for one reason or another.

Jennicap - let it go.  Even if you didn't mean to come across as rude, it did.  It's hard to gain the messenger's meaning without hearing voice inflection or tone. 

Jennicap

Qmommy:

Jennicap:

Ladies don't let your hormones get the best of you, I didn't mean any offense but the obvious thing if your feeling guilty don't take down time, work harder. I never said you didn't work hard to begin with. I understand that the hormones are raging but no need to jump down my throat for being Mr.Obvious.

vaness1229 - don't respond!  Let it go!  It sounds like her hormones are getting the best of her right now and is annoyed for one reason or another.

Jennicap - let it go.  Even if you didn't mean to come across as rude, it did.  It's hard to gain the messenger's meaning without hearing voice inflection or tone. 

Believe me I'm not holding on, I just posted b/c I felt bad that the girls had thier panties in a bunch, it uncomfortable to sit that way.

mestle

What if you offered to come in for a couple of hours on the weekend?  It's obviously not as much as your team is working, but it would still show that you are dedicated to what you are doing, and not trying to slack.  (I'm not saying that you are slacking at all, but if you are feeling guilty that might help!)

But I agree with everyone else, you have to do what's right for your baby right now, and if that means working 8 hours a day, that's how it will be!