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Sick pay at 32 weeks

5 replies

Firstbaby2015 · 11/06/2015 05:39

Hi all,

It's my first post on here as I'd like some advice if anyone knows the answer!

I'm currently 32+4 and have really struggled with my first pregnancy.

My first 16 weeks were awful with sickness and exhaustion, then things picked up. I've never felt like myself during pregnancy and at 25 weeks I was diagnosed with PND and was signed off until 29 weeks.

I was paid full pay as it was a pregnancy related sickness, and have since started talking therapy which is helping loads.

In the last week my morning sickness has returned and the exhaustion is even worse than in the beginning. I'm struggling to sleep at night too so it all feels like it's getting the better off me.

I've been off work sick again for the last 2 days, but I feel extremely guilty for it. I know I need to listen to my body and take a break when I need it. My question is, if it's pregnancy related again can my work cut my pay? I know if it wasn't pregnancy related they would have when I was signed off.

I'm due to finish up just before 36 weeks so I'm on the countdown now, but I'm really worried that my SMP will be less if my pay is cut due to being off at the moment.

Any help would be great!

OP posts:

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ovumahead · 11/06/2015 05:58

Your company should have a maternity leave ax be policy which explains all this. I work in the NHS and if you're off sick with pregnancy related illness within a certain time frame of your due date, your maternity leave automatically starts. Can't remember the timings tho. Employers have nothing to do with SMP as far as I'm aware. Hope you feel better soon !

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ovumahead · 11/06/2015 05:58

Sorry for typos! Don't know what 'ax be' means!

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Cassie258 · 11/06/2015 06:03

What ovuma said. According to citizens advice its this...

You can choose when to start your maternity leave. It can be at any time in, or after, the 11th week before your baby is due. However, your maternity leave will start automatically if you're off work for any reason to do with your pregnancy from the fourth week before your baby is due.

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flowery · 11/06/2015 06:16

In answer to your question, your sick pay entitlement is whatever your contract says. You are not entitled to any more sick pay for pregnancy-related illness than for any other medical condition.

However going off sick won't affect your SMP as this is based on average earnings in the 8 week period leading up to the 25th week of pregnancy. So your SMP rate is already decided.