I told my boss that I was pregnant with my 2nd child which was met with disgruntled questions about how I thought this would effect his business.
My plan was to take 4 months off as this was as much as finances would allow however, I would work from home during this time.
1 month before my due date, I became ill and my baby had stopped growing so extra scans were needed. During this time, I was completely shunned by management and colleagues. In the month between then and my due date, hardly a soul spoke to me. I was made to feel like a criminal.
I ended up needing a C-Section but had a healthy baby boy on Christmas Day. 1 week later all I received were calls, texts and emails demanding what my plans were now that I couldn’t drive for a few weeks. After 8 years of hard work, loyalty and what I thought friendship and not one word of concern towards me and my baby by both management and colleagues.
During the next 4 months of working at home, I received daily emails and texts demanding information. If I didn’t respond within a certain amount of time, I was made to feel like my job would be compromised. These 4 months of wanting to enjoy my baby was the most stressful and upsetting time I’ve ever experienced.
After having no choice but to return, even now I dread needing time off if either of my children are ill. Even though I manage my own workload and it is always completed to deadlines, I am treated as though I should choose work every time.