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?

@OnceAgainWithFeeling Yes I've taken two weeks as sick.... back Monday.

During weeks 19 and 20 of pregnancy? Do you get SMP or enhanced sick pay?

You may find that your reference states you were employed for eg 20 months but only actually worked for 10 months.

Your pay in weeks 17-25 are what determines your 90% pay for SMP. 2 weeks of SSP in this period could have significant impact.

Hi.
I can't afford to go on SSP.
I just want to know how I can manage my sickness at the moment so I don't lose too much money.

What will you have been paid for the sickness you have already taken?

@OnceAgainWithFeeling I'm still employed on maternity and references are factual.

The only way to take paid time off is annual leave. You could ask to reduce your hours but that would come with a reduction in pay. If you did this after week 25* it wouldn’t impact on your 90% for SMP.

(This varies if you are paid monthly.)

SSP

I’m a HR Director with over 20 years in the field. ;)

It’s not unfactual (or uncommon) to point out that you were employed for 20 months but only actually did the job for 10 of them. You claiming you have 2 years experience in doing something when you don’t would be fraud.

These sort of posts enrage me. No wonder women are viewed negatively in the work place.
if you’re sick, you’re sick. Get a doctors note and send it to your employer.
you continue to accrue leave as normal and can take before it after maternity.
if you want to look like you’ve been there 2 years, give appropriate notice at the end of your mat leave

If your employer said on your reference that you were employed by them for two years but one year was maternity leave. That would be a fact.

You may have just scuppered yourself for SMP, OP, but you haven’t given enough detail to know for sure.

What’s your due date and how often are you paid? What dates does your sickness cover?

They shouldn’t really mention the reason for absence but they can absolutely state that the time doing the work was significantly less than the time employed.

@OnceAgainWithFeeling how have I not go SMP by being sick for two weeks? I've been employed since January and the baby is due December. I'm obviously going to get SMP.

You may not hit the earnings requirement in the qualifying period with 2 weeks on SMP. As per the earlier post I quoted.

You haven’t given enough detail to say for sure.

Weeks 17-25 are the key weeks for qualifying for SMP. That’s why it’s called the Qualifying Period. If you answer my questions I can help you further. Or you can message me if you like.

I'm employed by the company, I've just been sick for two weeks. It's allowed!

See below for Citizen's Advice info.

Perhaps you are confusing the six weeks of 90% pay?

When you can get statutory maternity pay
This is the type of maternity pay that most people get. Your employer has to pay you this if:
• you work for your employer in the 15th week before your baby is due and have worked for them for at least 26 weeks before that (you can find your dates by entering your due date below)
• your average pay, before tax, is at least £123 a week
Your average pay is worked out over 8 weeks, finishing roughly 15 weeks before your due date. Contact your nearest Citizens Advice if you're close to the minimum pay and need to work out your exact average.
If your employer is taken over by another business your weeks of work will include time working for both employers.
If you're entitled to it, also check how to get statutory maternity pay, including what to do if your employer won't pay.

Government site

No, you can’t take holiday that you haven’t accrued

@Tannedandfake I will have been working for 8 full months of the holiday year so I will have some holiday accrued.

ACAS.

I started the job 8 weeks before being pregnant.

I'm so worried about this all now

Please call Acas, they are amazing and are able to advise you exactly how things go.

This must be an anxious time. But find out from your employer how much holiday you are entitled to up until now and then ask if you can take x number of days leave.