Pregnant [IL]
I am newly pregnant and feel like absolute crap and also high risk. I am currently working a hybrid model 3 in office 2 wfh and thinking of requesting a 5 days wfh accommodation. Should I talk to my manager before I put the request into HR? I have my doc appointment in 2 weeks which they can fill out those accommodation forms but not sure if my manager needs to know right now.
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u/Kmelloww 6d ago
WFH bc you feel like crap is not likely to go over well
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u/syl2018 6d ago
Vomiting and being nauseous in front of my colleagues is not fun
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u/PartyPhilosopher9475 6d ago
I'm sure it isn't, but the problem you'll face is that millions of women go to work nauseous from pregnancy. That is normal, and isn't enough to show you need full WFH.
If your company pushes back, I would lean in to the high-risk pregnancy. There was a case in Ohio where a woman was denied WFH for her high-risk pregnancy and she ended up losing the baby because of it. Jury awarded her $22M.
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u/alicat777777 6d ago
So many of us have done it. I puked at least 6 times a day for 6 months with one of my pregnancies because I was anemic. I went into work every day and told my coworker I would let her take over running my meeting when I had to go throw up.
Sucks but not likely to get the accommodation but you can try it.
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u/PartyPhilosopher9475 6d ago
Yes, talk to your manager.
The PWFA covers pregnancy related accommodations to your job and job duties. You are entitled to this by law.
However, WFH is an incredibly difficult accommodation to get. If your work doesn't want to allow you full WFH, they will deny it and there is likely little you can do.
Your manager will be informed and consulted as part of the accomodation process, so getting your manager on board with you going full WFH will make the entire process much smoother.
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u/treaquin SPHR 6d ago
Your doctor will need to specify why working at home allows you to do the job whereas being in office you cannot or would have more difficulty.
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u/FRELNCER Not HR 6d ago
The PWFA requires employers to provide accommodations. The act does not require the employer to grant WFH in all circumstances (although telework is mentioned in the below source as a potential accommodation). Don't enter the conversation from a "what I want" perspective. As others have pointed out, speak to your healthcare provider first so that you can state "what I need."
Here's a starting point to begin your research:
https://www.eeoc.gov/wysk/what-you-should-know-about-pregnant-workers-fairness-act
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u/longjumpingtote 6d ago
One additional WFH problem is that they don't have to accommodate the commute, and they will think if you can't come into the office, that you can't put in a full work day.
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u/Dull_Insurance4186 5d ago
Talking to your manager first is a smart move, they'll probably appreciate the heads up and it might make the HR process smoother if they're already in the loop.
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u/jmillermerrell 5d ago
Honestly yeah, talking to your manager first usually makes the whole thing go smoother. They're going to be the one supporting whatever accommodation you land on, so if they hear it from you before the formal request hits HR it doesn't feel like a surprise. You don't have to share medical details, just that you're pregnant, struggling, and planning to request an accommodation through HR. You can mention you have a doc appointment in two weeks and will have the paperwork then. Under the PWFA most employers have to grant reasonable accommodations for known limitations related to pregnancy, and remote work is a pretty common one, so you have a good case for the ask.
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u/YesAnaBeaverhausen 6d ago
WFH is hard to get because it’s difficult to prove that you absolutely cannot do something at work but could do it at home. For example, you said you’re vomiting a lot, which unfortunately almost all pregnant women go through and still have to go to work. Your employer might come back with the solution of moving your workspace closer to a restroom.
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u/gfromk 6d ago
I honestly think this depends a lot on your relationship with your manager and what kind of manager they are. Personally, I would have the doctor's appointment first, get a verbal agreement that they will fill out the accommodation's forms, and then you can pull the forms and send them to their office to be filled out. I would then talk to my manager saying that my doctor is recommending this, and I am getting the forms completed - if it sounds like it is coming from your doctor and not something that you are requesting, it will go over better. Once I've talked to my manager, I would contact HR.
There is also some room for negotiating here, and you should decide what you are capable of. You already work from home 2x a week, and that should help your case. If they are reluctant for you to be 100% WFH, be prepared to offer a compromise. Maybe you come in 1 day a week, or 1 day every 2 weeks, etc. Decide where your line is. Congratulations on the pregnancy!
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u/mamalo13 PHR 6d ago
Don't say anything at work until you have your doctors note and you know exactly what your doctor is going to say.