Help re; sickness whilst pg, early maternity leave?

[holsnovell]

Can anyone help? I'm pg with dd2 and can't remember how all the sickness at work thing works? At what point might you be forced to take maternity leave? Thanks in advance girls

[NikkiBFG]

I had a colleague who was pretty sick until she was 5months and was off for a good three months....beause she had doctors notes etc, they didn't make her take early mat leave....so I think it would need to be a couple of months at least before they looked at that....

[fillyjonk]

oh its about the last month, and it HAS to be pg related

they CAN'T make you take it before then

[holsnovell]

Cheers nikki i was the same as your collegue with dd1. This time around i'm just getting really bad back pain- i'm seeing doc wed- and my job is very active and shifts are killing me. I work at luton airport as a despatcher and i'm constantly running around aircrafts and up and down the stairs. I'm going ring my boss tomorrow and get put on lighter duty's like last time i think.

[NikkiBFG]

Oh lord yes, you need to go on lighter duties! That job sounds hard work even in a non preg state!!!

Am exhausted just thinking about that!!

[holsnovell]

Yeah its hard but i do enjoy spesh in the summer! They were quite undertanding when i was last preg

[DaisyMOO]

I think it's from 28 weeks that you can be forced to go on mat leave, although it would be a pretty horrible company that made you IMHO. I hope you feel better soon.

[lisad123]

Its chanced recently. It used to be 29 weeks but most companies now say 34 weeks, if you are off for a day for pregancny related illness. Im signed off at the mo, im 23 weeks, due to spd. Good luck

[fillyjonk]

its NOT, thats the old rules

ok let me check

[fillyjonk]

4 weeks before due date, ie 36 weeks

scroll down to "Pregnancy-related illness". This is the govt site, btw, they KNOW what they are talking about.

prior to this, if your illness is pg related, they cannot sack you, if they can't find alternative work for you they have to put you on full-paid leave, you have a LOT of protection.

Also remember that if you are off sick in the 4 wks prior to the birth and it is NOT pg related (say a cold) they CANNOT put you on maternity leave, it MUST be pg related

[holsnovell]

Thanks for the help ladies x