Heavily pregnant and struggling. Reduce hours or go off sick?

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

Im due the last week in October and have annual leave in to cover October to my due date.

Im in agony. I sit for my job, 8.5hrs a day five days a week, on a pretty nightmarish shift pattern. My pelvis is not handling this well at all and feels like it wants to crack open.

Im considering requesting to reduce my hours down so that I still do the five shifts but only 4/5 hrs a day. However I would really like to be able to keep my full salary. We have no enhanced maternity pay so SMP will be kicking in at the end of October and whilst I need to slow down at work, I also need to stock pile my wage to help me through the ML.

My sick polocy at work states full pay for 13 weeks (due to my length of service).

I want to reduce my hours, rather than scrap them, however Im not sure if work have ever had this sort of request before.

I know all requests would probably need tobe backed up by my MW / doc and can go and see them Monday, but my boss is on with me on sunday so I would like to be able to speak with her then.

[Lally112]

you need to check and see if they can force early maternity start on you should you go sick x amount of weeks before due date. at my last proper job it was 8 weeks before so if I called in sick or went off with a line 8 weeks prior to my date then they would automatically start my maternity. so look and check that wont happen to you

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

Oh our place is four weeks. Im due the last Saturday in October, which would mean coming off the Sick Leave by the last Saturday in September. Im scheduled to work that Sat-Tues (with AL taking me from the Wedesday 1st Oct to my EDD).

[Snapespotions]

I have had two members of staff in this situation previously. Both got GP certificates advising reduced hours, and I was more than happy to accommodate this as it made sense to me to have them in work for some of the time, if they could manage it, rather than not at all.

On both occasions, though, I had to do battle with HR who felt that reduced hours should mean reduced pay, rather than recording the time lost as sick leave. I couldn't see the logic in saying that we would give full pay to someone who stayed at home all day but only half pay to someone who managed to get in and work in the morning!

Eventually, I won on both occasions, but I guess you'll need to discuss it with your employer to know where you stand. Good luck!! :)

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

Im off Monday and Tuesday, when my HR dept. will be open, however I will call and speak to them about the situation then. I think my MW runs a surgery on Monday, too, so I could call and speak to her and see what she advises.

[Itscurtainsforyou]

I would get signed off sick, if you're as bad as you describe even reduced hours are going to be hard work.

I believe legally they're allowed to start your mat leave if you're off sick from 36 weeks onwards, so you'd be on sick leave between now and end of sept, then either annual leave or mat leave in October.

[InternetFOREVER]

What would happen to your annual leave if they started your mat leave at 36 weeks? Would you be able to tag it onto the end of your leave or would you lose it? Best to check with HR.

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

I asked the question a few weeks ago about annual leave as I was worried that if the baby comes early, and my ML automatically starts, that I would lose the AL.

They tag it all on the end, next year.

[flowery]

Honestly? It sounds like you'd be far better off stopping work altogether, rather than just reducing the number of hours you are "in agony" for, and if sickness means full pay, there's nothing to be lost in doing so.

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

I feel really crap about it all. I want to be able to enjoy this (my last) pregnancy, and I dont want to let my employers or colleagues down. But I hurt

[Metalgoddess]

Go off sick, you are in agony, that's what sick leave is there for.

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

Do I see a MW for that or a GP?

[InternetFOREVER]

GP for sick note. It's something I struggle with too - don't want to let people down but then end up taking ridiculous amounts of pain and suffering myself just to prevent others being mildly inconvenienced!

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

Spoke to my manager today who just sort of gave an "ahhh bless" response. She then drew up the schedule for the nixt fortnight and has put me on a seven day stint.

Fucking sick.

[Itscurtainsforyou]

In that case, gp first thing tmw. If you're in that much pain you should be able to get an emergency appointment. Ask to be signed off for at least 2 weeks, which should give you some breathing space.

It sounds like you can't rely on sympathy.

[Pico2]

Ask to see the GP who you think will be most sympathetic. My GP signed me off at 29 weeks for something less serious than you have and only signed me off until 34 weeks, so I "went back" for my annual leave and didn't have ML triggered early.

[maggiethemagpie]

I'd go off sick. I think most GPs would happily sign off a pregnant lady in pain without a second thought. And work will not be able to touch you as it's pregnancy related. you may need to start your mat leave earlier but can tag on holiday at the end

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

Ive been to see the GP who has given me details for a physio who takes self referrals, and she has issued me a months sicknote.

She was extremely sympathetic!

I hate hate hate the fact that I am "off sick" - ive only ever taken the odd day here and there for flu aside from last year I had a fortnight off after a MMC.

[Pico2]

Is that an NHS physio? If you have problems with getting seen quickly, and can afford it, do consider going private. My back "went" when I was pregnant with DD and I was lucky that it was easily fixable by an osteopath. I'd been better 3 weeks by the time my NHS physio appointment turned up.

Don't worry about your sickness record, pregnancy doesn't count and your colleagues know that you don't take the piss.

[Itscurtainsforyou]

Hopefully the physio should see you quickly as you're pregnant (at least that's what happens around here). Don't worry about being off sick. There are some times when you need to stop and rest rather than forcing yourself to work through it. Now is definitely one of those times.

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

Thanks for the reassurance. GP said to call Physio (nhs) and if they are unable to fit me in, soon, to call my MW and she will be able to arrange something quicker.