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Yeah that is abusive to say the least. Respectfully let them know that you will be out on maternity leave (seeing as they are missing the obvious) shortly and can’t take on new work. And definitely start looking for a new job once you are strong enough post delivery to do so. Wishing you a safe delivery 🙏🏽 and congratulations in advance 🎉
Who said you need to work whilst in labor 🤣🤣 this is hilarious. Just ignore them and hand in notice at end of mat leave.
Chief
They’re pushing you out. I would talk to an employment lawyer.
Constructive termination of a protected class.
I’ve had two children while at a mid-big law firm. Not a single time did anyone dare to say I will be working while in labor and will only be allowed to stop working when the doctor comes in and says it’s time. What? I would be furious! There’s generally a ramp down period so that you AREN’T working as much and there is coverage on your matters when your due date comes. That is a very toxic environment - I would do as everyone else has said and take your leave and look elsewhere. Honestly making you work while you’re having a major medical emergency is not in the best interest of the client so I would even say it’s unethical for the firm to be making you work on any client matters.
Being assigned cases up to leaving is normal. Working during labor? Not normal, ethical, or reasonable. Don’t even consider it. You get one life. One experience of giving birth with this child. If something were to happen… your position would be filled and life would go on. Don’t ever forget that. I just gave birth in July and my three months is up October.
Is this in the US? Federal laws protect you and you should not be working while in labor! That is against the law! Have your doctor take you off a month before your due date if needed. They cannot ignore doctor’s orders!
This is so abusive.
Are you remote? I had a similar problem with my first child when our firm was still primarily remote. The team ignored my ramp down and kept assigning new work through my due date.
Then I showed up to a networking event at 37 weeks and they saw the huge belly and were reminded of my imminent departure. Everyone changed tune quickly—and then I had my baby a week and a half later at 38 weeks! Worked all day that Friday and water broke at 12am Saturday morning. Had to send transfer emails the following Monday but it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. Hopefully they’re not still treating you this way if they have a constant visual reminder that you’ll be out soon….
Op, congratulations on your new addition! I hope that you find a new employer and a better work environment in the coming months
Ooof. I am so sorry. In that case, I agree with the other commenters. If I were in your shoes, I would lateral. Being a parent comes with so many new responsibilities and if they’re this horrible to you now, I can’t imagine how they’ll behave when you have emergencies related to your child. There are much better law firms out there.
Slacker
Just got back from Family leave—I’m a dad, didn’t need family leave for obviously medical reasons. My group winded me down to practically 0% usage a week before the due date.
Very normal in Biglaw but you should ignore them. It’s their problem not yours.
Depends on the practice
Can you imagine how a client would feel knowing you were working on their case while unable to give it your full attention because you are laboring? Good thing HIPPA prevents your Medical team from sharing your medical history without your consent. As far as they’re concerned, you went into labor and immediately delivered and on maternity leave effective immediately.
This is illegal!
Rising Star
“Hi boss, man that was a super funny joke you made earlier about expecting me to still be tethered to my laptop while I’m in labor. Thanks for keeping it so lighthearted!”
Lazy
Peace out to that job 👋🏻
Can you spell Pregnancy Discrimination Act? I’m not an employment law specialist and I don’t know if you’d be eligible for FMLA, but in either situation it seems you’d have a great lawsuit if those laws apply. If not, maybe Title IX or state civil law violations. SOMETHING’S gotta cover this. I’ve never heard of this before.
Not normal but not surprising. They can’t do this. As an employment lawyer, you have a case. Get representation.
Please tell me you are joking. Or they were joking. You get to take at least 6 weeks disability on the state. When you go on leave, they'll reassign your cases, it's that simple. Do the work on them that you can, leave them in as good a shape as possible for the next unfortunate soul that works at your firm, then go have your baby.
Sounds like you work at K&E … I mean a sweatshop.
Forcing someone to work in labor is 100% illegal
No U.S. labor law permits an employer to demand an employee work:
While in active labor
During hospitalization
During medical emergency
During childbirth
While under doctor-ordered leave
This would be an OSHA violation, ADA violation, PWFA violation, and PDA violation.
No employer can override a doctor or force work during medical care. Demanding that a pregnant employee continue working during a recognized medical emergency exposes them to:
Elevated blood pressure
Fetal distress
Premature labor
Hemorrhage
Complications during induction or C-section
Preventable medical errors
This squarely violates OSHA’s duty to protect employees from serious physical harm.
I mean lawyer in US? The fact that you get new cases it’s fine. The calendar and assignment can be given but I the fact they tell you specifically that you have to work until and unless you are in a surgery makes me think it’s either a super small for or a firm outside of US. It’s weird !