Losing my job

[c12341]

Hi girls just abit of advice for me please I'm in a final warning in work for Gross misconduct, I've told my manager I am 6 weeks pregnant as I've asked for days off with being sick in which they have told me "no" basically I will lose my job if I do! My ops manager also told me "if I am this bad early on then what makes me think they could keep me for the full 9 months" which I was shocked an to be honest disgusted about anyway when I've had those chats I've always ended up staying logged on at work but today I am finding it really hard I feel awful but am worried about losing my job can they do this to me?

[jlr1986]

It's really bad that they have responded like that and definitely not ok. If you dont mind me asking what is the final warning for? Absence related?

[LouiseTrees]

Sounds like pregnancy discrimination. Is any of this written/email form? See a lawyer.

[AriettyHomily]

What were the previous warnings for?

[Justgivemesomepeace]

They cant discipline you or dismiss you for any pregnancy related absence.

[Justgivemesomepeace]

It isn't relevant what the warning was for. It cant be absence as that is not gross misconduct.

[Strawberries4days]

That sounds terrible what's happening at your work :( They can't fire you for being pregnant as it counts as discrimination. Morning sickness in the first trimester is such a pain and it's worse when you're working. The comment about whether to keep you on for 9 months is disgraceful too. Do you have a HR department you can bring this up with ? There will be loads of advice online and Citizens advice would have some information and NHS online. You're still entitled to basic human rights, whether you're 6 weeks pregnant or 20 weeks pregnant. Hang in there!

[c12341]

Hi thanks for the reply's my final warning was for short calls as I was having system issues with working from home, they are saying to me that all off everything is rolled into one now and no I was on the phone to my ops manager when he said that to me I'm just not sure what to do because I do not want to lose my job but I also feel so sick that I physically can't sit here much longer xx

[kazzer2867]

Hi OP. The law says that it is pregnancy discrimination to treat a woman unfavourably on the grounds of her pregnancy or because she wants to take or has taken maternity leave (Equality Act 2010 s.18).Time for you to get advice and to arm yourself with as much information as you can. Please read:

maternityaction.org.uk/advice/pregnancy-discrimination/#:~:text=The%20law%20says%20that%20it%20is%20pregnancy%20discrimination,has%20taken%20maternity%20leave%20%28Equality%20Act%202010%20s.18%29.

Also, contact ACAS - www.acas.org.uk/managing-your-employees-maternity-leave-and-pay/discrimination-because-of-pregnancy-or-maternity.

Good luck OP.

[Viviennemary]

You need to get a sick note from your GP if you aren't able to work. Or do you have one? You are protected from bring dismissed because of any pregnancy related illness.

[Superscientist]

Try to keep communication via email as much as possible, save copies to a non-work email if possible so you have a record of what they have said. If you use message based services like slack take screenshots as messages can be deleted or edited afterwards. Follow up phone calls with emails to confirm what was said and what actions were agreed.

As others have said they cannot discriminate or issues warnings etc for pregnancy related illnesses. My company is good but I still always make sure that when I have to email in sick with pregnancy related illnesses that i specify that it is pregnancy related.

If you are struggling with sickness speak to your gp they may be able to sign you off sick or prescribe something to help.

It might be worth getting professional advice regarding the other warnings. Whilst they can't dismiss you for pregnancy related issues they can for non-pregnancy related issues so it would be good to find out where you stand regarding that too.

[pigletpie2177]

Hi OP agree with everything above. A useful resource might be Pregnant then Screwed - check out their website.

[c12341]

Thank you so much everyone