Can I be displined for a pregnnacy related illness?

[bytheMoonlight]

I am 7 month pregnant. Since falling pregnant I have had 3 days off sick with morning sickness. These were three seperate days.

Last week I had sickness and diahorea and was off for our days. I didn't once state this was a pregnancy related illness, each day when I phoned in I said it was a stomach bug and thats what I wrote on my 'return to work' form.

However my sick record came back to me manager with the reason I was off for those four days as being morning sickness. He said he would correct this but then took me for an interview where he said that although this time I would be disaplined and placed on a warning for my sickness, next time I would be, even it were pregnancy related.

I understand that for non pregnancy related illness I will be treated as per normal for the displainay procedure but I thought I was exempt for pregnancy related illnesses.

Can someone help clear this up?
I am in the union but haven't had chance to speak to the rep yet.
A collegue old me that perhaps I caould be displained and placed on the warning stages (we have 2 warning stages before being sacked) but not sacked, is this true?

[bytheMoonlight]

this time I *wouldn't be

[MmeRedWhiteandBlueberry]

They can't sack you for being pregnant, but I think they can make you start your maternity leave if they believe that your pregnancy is affecting your job.

[moaningminniewhingesagain]

Sickness releted to pregnancy will still be recorded, sick pay is same as normal.

But you are right, pregnancy related sickness doesn't count towards sick leave you can be disciplined for.

So the three days of morning sickness do not count, but the d and v illness counts as usual.

[comtessa]

Speak to the union rep and speak to an employment advisor at your local law centre or CAB.

[moaningminniewhingesagain]

link here

they can ask you to start Mat Leave after 36 weeks if sick with pregnancy related issues but they can disregard odd days.

[bytheMoonlight]

Thanks for the link moaningminnie

[bytheMoonlight]

I spoke to my union rep yesterday and he wasn't at all happy with my manager.

He said I should contact our Employment Health Services and tell them I feel that I'm being put under stress at work from my manager due to my pregnancy.

He is also going to speak to my manager himself and educate him as to the law regards to pregnanacy related illnesses.

He also said I shouldn't have no more meetings with my manager wthout his representation as had he been there he would have terminated the interview when my manager started making threats about dispalinary action.

Thanks for all your advice

[hairytriangle]

I'm kind of apalled that anyone would be disciplined for being sick .. Unless it was really excessive