I am leaving at 29 weeks so not much longer to go now. Are you in the US ryder ? here we are meant to have breaks (i think) every 4 hours but we never get breaks, but when reading a booklet about maternity rights your meant to have a sit down or somewhere you can go and sit down if you need to, which I would be able to, its not really sitting down that bothers me becuase I just get on with it, its just that im not given less tables or the easier section and when its busy it gets stressful (as where i work is so unorganised!) and the tables are so close together that I cant fit through and have to find different routes or squeeze through tiny gaps (easier said than done with a bump)

At the end of the day I can only do as much as I am capable of, if that means I cant give 100 % service to the customers then thats not my fault the boss will just have to deal with it. I just wish she was more understanding and not so damn rude to me infront of all the other staff!

thanks for the replies girls xxx

thanks hun will have read thru later id best go do my shopping keep putting it off!

The law here is much better than in the US. There may not be jobs they can give you that are easier, but they have to be seen to be doing everything they can to help - i.e., shorter but more shifts? Quieter shifts etc.

If they in anyway look like they are trying to encourage you to leave, and you can in anyway point out how they could have treated you better, then that is constructive dismissal on grounds of discrimination and very very easy to prove.

She has a duty to do EVERYTHING she can to make your life easier, within her capabilities. But you have to make sure that you have made all your feelings and problems clear to her. You can't expect her to be a mind reader.

Ignorance of her obligations only makes it worse. If she is going to run a business, then she shoudl be up on her obligations.

Oh Girlies i cant really sympathise with you im afraid but just wanted to say you are entitled to atleast a 15 min break when working over 4 hrs so you really need to look into this.Maybe try and arrange a meeting with your manager before you start work and talk over these issues.
I work in a very busy department and either work 8 or 12 hrs shifts however i always get my breaks even if it means other people dont! My managers are very good and take pregnancy very seriously. I had my risk assessment done at approx 14-15 weeks.
Good luck with getting things sorted xx

I'm not sure of your location but I'm in Us and I only work part-time,4 days a week only a 4 hour shift,and going by the rules I wasn't entitled to a break before my pregnancy but now I'm allowed to one 20 minute break...

It sounds pretty intense,your job...Take it easy and count days till your mat leave!

Our employment laws are much stricter than the US even when you're not pregnant.

As Emmea said they have to look to change your duties to accomodate you. If they cant you can ask to be suspended on full pay. People in the US may be shocked but thats the law here. My best friend was in a similar situation and her employer tried to make things difficult in the hope she'd leave. She stuck to her guns and went as far as taking it to court - they settled on the court steps and she got a very good pay out. They knew they couldnt win.

I work in a restaurant too but luckily for me it's managed between myself and my OH & we live in a flat above it so I work as much as I can as an when I want.

Even so I can do both luch and dinner service in full and paper work between times so I know the pain you can be in by the end of a day on your feet, running around after frustrating customers.

I think in this situation, if you really feel you can't cope you need to sit her down and properly explain it to her or make it formal and write a letter since she's clearly not being very helpful. She has so give you a break to sit down if you need to and helping you out where you can't manage. If she doesn't respond then maybe you can get a doctors note & if it still doesn't work then you may want to ask your doctor to sign you off work.

I hope you get it sorted soon.

Sound advice I think.

hay hun i think wat u should do go in ask her can i have a word with u and then just tell her that u not happy with wat u are doing and that u need less tables as u find it hard to get passed the customers at there tables and if she doesnt get the message then i wud ring head office and complain about her coz obviously she aint doing her job properly txt u soon xx

I know how you feel I work nights and some double shifts in a pub and the last few weeks have hit me really hard your always on your feet and moving around at quite a pace sometimes and although my bosses realise Im pregnant they cant understand why I get so tired I thought it would be obvious Im still working at the same pace before I was prego anyway Ive talked it over with them and can cut down my friday and saturday nite shifts by a hour or two which will help but have already made the decison to leave somewhere between week 29-32 because I need a break take care sweetie and I hope every table doesnt want puddings or coffee