How do I manage sickness and maternity?

[bernieaa]

I started a new job and got pregnant straight away.

Not the ideal situation as baby father is ghosting me but I'm positive about the future.

However I've had morning sickness until week 21. I'm currently taking sick leave to help recover and now I've developed panic attacks.

The panic attacks are related to my job. I often can't manage a full day of work
And lay on the sofa or just go to the toilet to close my eyes.

My bloods are all ok and my pregnancy is going fine. It's just being pregnant is making me tired.

I'm thinking of going on maternity at 36 weeks, 37th week as holiday and baby hopefully will comes 40 weeks.

Do I still accrue holiday whilst on maternity and can i take this years now? Eg if I have 15 days holiday before April can I take them before I go on maternity? I need the rest.

What if I get pro rata holiday from April 2024 - October 2024 (so say 20 days) can I get this paid out and quit my job like I would do if I was quitting anyway?

You will accrue holiday whilst on maternity but can’t take it before you start your maternity leave. You can have it when you return or to prolong your maternity leave.
you also can’t start maternity leave at week 36 and have holiday at week 37, once you are on maternity leave you cannot get paid holiday pay until you choose to come back.
If you are in sick at a certain point in your pregnancy you will automatically get put on maternity leave ( I can’t remember what week this is off the top of my head)

You should tell your employer that you are pregnant. This will protect you and stop them extending your probation period due to your sick days

It's from week 36 if you are pregnancy related sickness they can start your maternity.

What I'm proposing is I take week 37 as leave and give week 37 Friday as my last day?

Sorry I'm not understanding the holiday. I need time of now - say every Wednesday for the next 6 weeks. Can I "owe" them holiday when I go on maternity as our holiday year is the financial year.

Sorry I'm really confused.

What happens if I don't go back to that job and accrued holidays?

Ps I've been single mum since pregnancy too, it's very tough emotionally but with good family support you will be great and will love your little baby so much 🩵🩷

They already know. Ideally I would finish work now because I'm not coping and hate the job.... but I can't.

If you need time off for pregnancy appointments that's not annual leave, they have to just give it to tou

I hope so. He's just ghosted me :(

You can't quit- is this because they give good maternity pay?

They do give enhanced maternity but I don't qualify lol,

Are you entitled to mat pay or mat allowance? If just mat allowance, can't you just leave?

You cant start maternity leave and then take annual leave. Annual leave can be taken before maternity leave starts and/or after maternity leave ends. The earliest you can start maternity leave if 29 weeks

SMP. I've been working there for 7 months and passed probation, im 21 weeks so I should work for as long as possible,

Yeah so I'll "work" until the end of week 37 but week 37 is paid leave. The date will still be the same of when I leave. I just think week 36 is early to finish work but I have to finish asap.

Do you just get statutory sick pay if you're off as that can affect your maternity pay if you get SSP in weeks 17-25 of pregnancy?. SSP is below the earnings for SMP so you could end up only qualifying for maternity allowance of you are on sick pay during this period

No. I need to reduce hours at work and continue to earn money. So if I take one day a week as holiday I will hopefully get a bit more energy to continue working.

Sorry I'm being so evasive.... don't want to out myself. SSP is £109 a week. I earn a lot more than that.

Also I want to look like I'm doing this job for nearly 2 years when I look for a new one when I come back after maternity

If you are off on ssp during your qualifying weeks you may find the initial smp of 90% salary is lower. Your leave accrues during ml and you can take it as paid before returning or during notice period,

To qualify for SMP you must:

• earn on average at least £123 a week during the 8 week qualifying period


• give the correct notice and proof you’re pregnant
  


• have worked for your employer continuously for at least 26 weeks continuing into the ‘qualifying week’ - the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth

Your qualifying period is 8 weeks, I believe until the end of your 25th week of pregnancy. If you're on upaid sickleave you may not earn the average amount required so you may not qualify even though you have the length of service.

Yes I'm not going of on sick

Your OP said:

However I've had morning sickness until week 21. I'm currently taking sick leave to help recover and now I've developed panic attacks.

As pp. Are work aware you are not working a full day?

How many weeks have you actually done the job? Without being off
sick? Are you going to take a years maternity to get closer to making it look like you’ve done two years so you can move on?

I work from home.

I started 28 weeks ago and taken two weeks in a block as sick.

Yes!