Can my boss make me clean around a liter box while pregnant?
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Can my boss make me clean around a liter box while pregnant?
I left a letter explaining to my boss that I was pregnant and my doctor has advised me not to be around liter boxes. I asked her to respect mine and my husband’s wishes on the issue also (my job has 3 cats). She left me a message stating that she respected that however, if I used a vacuum to clean up the liter around the boxes I would not be coming into contact and I should be fine. My husband is concerned with the air borne risk. Does she have the right to be this picky? She does have classic previous signs of being a bullying boss.
Asked on September 29, 2010 under Employment Labor Law, Kansas
Answers:
M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
You need to get clarification from your doctor on the risks associated with cleaning the litter box and being around the cats. Ask him or her specifically about using the vacuum and the risks that your husband is concerned about ("air borne"). Once you have all the information then you wil be in a better position to discuss the issue with your boss and let her know that, in your opinion, balancing the litter box cleaning versus the risks associated with the litter box cleaning it is not worth putting your unborn child and you at risk. Be prepared, though, for repercussions as she sounds like the kind of boss that wants what she wants when she wants it. Good luck.
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