Research for an Honours Thesis: Difficulties combining pregnancy and work

[Mushroom]

I’m conducting a study on as part of an honours thesis at the University of Sydney that requires participants for the purpose gaining information and insights into women who have had some difficulties combining both work both pregnancy.

I understand that it may be a sensitive topic, but I’m very keen to hear about mother’s experiences surrounding employment and motherhood, particularly those who have experienced discriminatory behaviour in the workplace because they are pregnant, or an employer thought they would potentially become pregnant, or have recently given birth.

Difficulties can range from problems regarding attitudes with co-workers regarding your pregnancy to actual instances of discrimination on the grounds of pregnancy or potential pregnancy.

Some examples of pregnancy discrimination include, but are not limited to:
•dismissal for getting pregnant
•missing out on promotion, training and other opportunities because of pregnancy or the assumption that a woman might get pregnant
•suddenly finding that your work performance when pregnant is put under closer scrutiny
•having changes to work made without consent (such as the more enjoyable or complex tasks allocated elsewhere)
•being given less contact with the public or customers

All information will be treated with the upmost respect and sensitivity. Participation in the study is completely voluntary and you are free to withdraw yourself or your organisation (and all information in relation to it) from the study at any time and without penalty. A report of the study may be submitted for publication, however individual participants will not be identifiable in such a report.

All aspects of the study, including results, will be strictly confidential and only the researcher will have access to the information on the participants, especially given the sensitive nature of the topic.

If you are interested or know of anyone who is interested in participating the study, please comment, PM or get in touch with me at j.vergara(at)student.usyd.edu.au

[Chickadee]

Are you only researching negative experiences & problems, or are you also interested in hearing supportive and positive pregnancy/work experiences?

[Norman]

I was wondering that too as I had a very positive experience of combining work and pregnancy from an employer that is not always considered (or praised) to be flexible for families.

[Mushroom]

Although it would be wonderful hearing instances of positive employer experiences, my study is at the moment is just looking at negative or difficult experiences. However, these experiences that I am looking for can have both positive as well as negative outcomes.

For instance if there was negative feedback at the workplace concerning maternity leave or or part time positions after the birth of the child, a demotion during employment due to pregnancy but after discussion or mediation it was resolved.

But it is brilliant to hear that both of you have had positive experiences at the workplace in combining employment and pregnancy!

[Supermum]

Hi there Mushroom

At eight months pregnant a new boss arrived. He was my direct report. Apparently pregnancy caused loss of IQ and when I cried (oops) over what I perceived to be bullying and discriminatory behaviour, it was put down to my pregnancy as opposed to the treatment I was receiving. I am now back at work and the saga continues ....

That's my story in a nutshell.

Cheers

[Chickadee]

My boss was very supportive during my pregnancy, no questions asked when I needed to run around to appts and I did those on company time (not taking leave hours). No maternity pay though, which would have been nice :(

Returning to work has been ok, ups and downs. Generally my boss and other seniors I report to are understanding and I have a lot of flexibility about juggling hours and working around my daughters daycare hours and days. However, a few negatives:

- there is still sometimes an expectation that I can still get 5 days of work done even though I am part time at 3 days a week.

- I have still been expected sometimes to do whatever it takes to meet a deadline, including staying till 8:30 pm or 9:30 with my daughter beside me in her pram. That is decreasing now as she is more mobile and causes too much disruption in the office, more likely dh will take her home and I stay late.

- There is a perception that I won't want to travel to do site work. Partly it's that my dh also works for the same company, and travels, so the bosses are aware that they can't send both of us away at the same time and I guess it's easier just to plan on me being office bound. And while I appreciate this, as I really don't want to be away for more than a few days, I'm very concious and uncomfortable about getting special treatment that other parents (all dads) in the office don't get, just because I'm the mum.

- I feel I've plateaued in my career at the moment with no real opportunity to move upwards into more senior level jobs or more project management. Some of this is due to working part time but it's also that even if I were working full time I'm not willing (or able) anymore to put in the extra 10-30 hours a week or travelling that's really expected.

[Kamaikia]

I informed my boss of my pregnancy at 8 weeks. I was working 40 -50 hrs as a cook. At 12 weeks my boss sat me down to have a talk about my job. I was feeling great, no sickness and had not missed one day due to pregnancy. My boss wanted to know when i planned on finishing work. At that stage my plan was to work right through until about 8 months. My boss was constantly making comments that soon i wouldn't fit in the shop with a big belly, and that i would throw up all over the place. I turned up for my shift when i was 17 weeks only to be given 2 weeks pay and told not to come back, that i should apply for a job there once the baby was born. They told me to my face that they didn't want a pregnant person there because its dangerous yet didn't have the guts to put it on the seperation certificate. They put on there attitude towards staff and customers. Even though not once in the time i was working for them did i receive a warning.

[blaisekiararylan]

As i had only been at my previous employment for 2 months, i had told my employer before i started even showing. as the baby was due one month prior to my one year anniversary at the organisation i was told by another employee that once i left they would not be leaving my postion open for me to return. when i had questioned my manager he denied the whole thing (even though there were a number of witnesses to his conversation). so needless to say i handed in my resignation a few weeks later (to his shock) and continued on at my second job until the baby was born, where i am currently working almost two years later.

[Supermum]

Hi there - have sent you a very lengthy PM! cheers,

[mummyb]

hi
when i had my first baby i was working in the hospitality industry ,when i found out i was pregnant i was really upset i didnt know what to do .
i cried at work one day adn one of the female supervisors said i didnt have to have it and that abortion was a solution .
when i told my h.r i was going to have to change my shifts to ones with less heavy lifting adn not such extreme late nights then early mornings i was meet with a very firm sorry bt there are no shifts availbale .
but a guy who was having some personal problems and needed a couple of months off to get him self sorted was not only allowed the time off but given realy "easy" shifts .
when i said i was going to leave cause my shifts where to hard i wasnt given any help at all .
so i left had my baby then belive it or not when back to work there again and got pregnant again this time i just rang up and said i wasnt available for any more shifts and that was that .
but when i had my second bub and i was in the hospital i saw my old boss and her new baby and tho she didnt reconise me i couldnt help but wonder if things had been as hard for her as they where for me .
good luck in your study and if you want any more info let me know

[reflect169]

My employer has two girls, youngest was 2. my boss was very critical of me throughout my work, at about 10 weeks, i hadto stop lifting too many plates, because i got sharp pains, and she was constantly 'when i was pregnant...' which really got me down. i was woring n a restaurant, and the waitrssing can be very strenous on your abdominal muscles, and although she was very understanding of morning sickness and things, she just critisesed me about the pains i was getting.

[mel]

i had told my employers about the baby and it was greeted with excitment, and i was told i was welcome to stay until i wanted to stop working, which i told them would be in another 2 to 3 months.
i was working in the retail industry and granted things were slow, so my shifts were down but that was fine with me as any extra money was welcome.
then they took on another staff member, and i was told that there were no longer enough shifts to go around so sorry... and that was it. i was employed as a casual in a small business so there was no 2 weeks notice, just sorry now you don't have a job.
i was pretty annoyed as they knew that i had only wanted to work another few months which only equated to 7 more shifts!
i had no actual morning sickness and would have been perfectly capable of working.

i felt that they could have waited that long before they replaced me... so much for job security. especially since they had assured me i would have a job till then.

well that's my winge!

mel :)

[MrsMiggins]

I can't believe so many women have had bad work experiences in this day & age!

I told everyone at work when I was 5 weeks PG and got so much kindness and support it was amazing!

I then applied for a promotion at about 22 weeks and while I was going through the interview process, the manager of that dept. actually said to me that there would be another, more senior position available shortly and asked if I would be interested in applying for that role instead. I did, and was given the more senior position. My start date was only 9 weeks before I was due to go on maternity leave.

My company then changed its policy on paid maternity leave from 6 weeks paid to 12 weeks paid (or 24 weeks at half pay). I decided to take 24 weeks at half pay and was even allowed to accumulate annual leave and flex time (even though this was technically against company policy as I was accruing more than our Enterprise Agreement allowed.)

My manager happily paid out my accrued flex time on my finishing work and it was a very welcome little bonus, I can tell you!

I have been encouraged to come back to work whenever I like and will be kept up to date on all the goings-on around my office in the mean time.

[ThomasMum]

My company/bosses have been very supportive all the way, through my pregnancy and now. I Took 2 month early maternity leave and received 6 month half-paid maternity leave, bliss!
So far so good.

I’m back to work now (2 days a week only). However my direct senior manager told me that because I’m on 2 days/week therefore I’m not entitled to get any promotion!

Discrimination against us mummsies?

I think so too! :mad:

Nothing I can do tho. I love working there, one of the best companies in Australia, and the fact that they let me there just 2 days a week on as permanent basis I think that’s just wonderful…

Good luck with your thesis, I hope this will be useful for the future of us mumsies going back in workplace!

[Imogensmum]

While my immediate boss was very happy for me- the CEO couldn't even manage a hello. Btu thats just him i suppose...

I was approach by another mummy from work who let me know that she had asked for and been granted 6week at half pay. So i approached the bosses and requested the same (i have been working at this job for 5years the other lady had been there for 18mths) i ws told that the budget only covered 1 maternity leave position a year :mad: should have fallen pregnant earlier i suppose!

Now i have approached them to return parttime for 6 months jan-jul and have been told that this is very diffcult for them- budgeting constraints and that IF it is approved i won't be told my 3days until january... Not happy- tis very hard to book childcare when i can't even let the centre know what days i need!

[ThomasMum]

While my immediate boss was very happy for me- the CEO couldn't even manage a hello. Btu thats just him i suppose...

since i joined my company since 2004 I have never met my CEO in real life LOL...i received his emails now and then (work-related) but thats about it...

sad eh...