Finding out I'm pregnant when already on sick leave

[Ascot1]

Hi
I have recently become pregnant (4 weeks), but am currently on long term sick leave after knee surgery.
In addition I had 8 weeks off last year after a separate surgery with an unrelated issue.
I am a Special Needs Teacher and enjoy my job very much, however am worried I may now be made redundant.
I would have liked to have already returned to work, but due to my jobs physical nature that has not been possible yet.
Can anyone shed any light or offer advise on by predicament?

[JustSayNoNoNo]

Why do you think you may be made redundant? Redundancy relates to the post itself, not to the person holding the post.

I suspect that you are worried that they will find a way to dismiss you. What grounds would they have for doing this? Have you had any warnings about your sickness absence level to date? Most organisations have some sort of threshold at which they start issuing formal warnings. Has your line manager or HR discussed this with you? Since you say you had hoped to be back to work before now I hope you have been keeping in touch regularly with your workplace, taking an interest in developments etc. Perhaps your GP could sign you as 'fit' to attend regular meetings or something, even though you are not fir to carry out your full range of normal duties.

Pregnancy is not an illness of course, and places certain responsibilities on your employer.

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will come along soon.

[hamptoncourt]

It is almost impossible to sack someone who is pregnant - the dismissal would be seen as automatically unfair ( unless you do something ridiculous like slapping your boss or nicking something.)

I would wait it out. Do not go back to work until you are fully operational, and then tell them once you are 12 weeks or earlier if you think there are any hazards/risks from your job.

You are special needs teacher so you should be a union member? If not sign up sharpish.

Good luck.

[maggiethemagpie]

Your employer would be very foolish to terminate your employment for a health related reason whilst you were pregnant and off sick. Even if the illness does not on the face of it relate to the pregnancy it's still very dodgy ground. Pregnancy places extra demands on the body, and it is not safe to take certain medications which may aid the recovery process.

Although it is possible to terminate the contract of someone who is pregnant you have to be fairly sure that it cannot link to the pregnancy in any way.

[Rufus200]

My advice is inform your work you are pregnant asap!

You can be fired for prolonged sick leave as they can say you aren't capable of doing your job as you are on sick leave but if you tell them you are pregnant then you are protected and can't be fired.

The only way a pregnant woman can be fired is if she has committed gross misconduct! Like stealing caught on CCTV.