To think that a miscarriage shouldn't count as sickness absence from work...

[lurcherlover]

...because pregnancy complications don't, do they? You can be off for weeks with HG etc and it doesn't go on your absence record. So why does miscarriage?

The background to this is that I had tonsillitis (a recurrent problem for me) in Jan and was off for 2 days. Then in May I had a missed mc (only found out at the dating scan) and subsequently an ERPC. I was signed off for a fortnight. On my return to work ( I'm a teacher) I found a lovely letter telling me that two periods of sickness absence within 6 months triggers "attendance concerns" and that I had to attend a meeting with someone from HR, to which I could take a union rep if I wished (jeez, thanks). I was really upset and told the head I couldn't go to this meeting (what was there to be said? Did they really think I wanted to be off for a fortnight recovering from a miscarriage?) in the end the meeting didnt happen but the miscarriage still counts as a period of sickness absence.

I've now got tonsillitis again (luckily Weds is my day off) and have just been to the dr and prescribed antibiotics. She told me to take the rest of the week off, but I feel I can't (much as I should) as I will get another bloody letter and a meeting when I go back and I'm really worried my sickness record looks bad. If it wasn't for the mc I wouldn't get a letter as it's 2 episodes of sickness in 6 months that triggers it and I was last off in Jan. AIBU to think classing a mc as sickness absence is unfair? And what do I do about this week?

Of course it should be classed as sickness absence. Whether it is taken into consideration in terms of breaching any sickness targets is an entirely separate matter. But it needs to be recorded as what it is... sickness absence.

I was given compassionate leave when I worked in the NHS.

ZOMBIE THREAD ALERT

FOUR AND A HALF YEAR OLD ZOMBIE THREAD!

Why the fuck are all these zombie threads being resurrected?

"anyadvice01

marriedinwhite,
you are incorrect. It is illegal to treat pregnancy related sickness as normal sickness but a woman experiencing pregnacy related sickness must be paid."

Where do people get their facts from?

Pregnancy related sickness is sickness and can be recorded. However, it must be recorded separately from ordinary sickness and does not count towards disciplinary action.

Miscarriage, the complications of miscarriage, etc., is all fundamentally a complication of pregnancy, because you can't experience them without pregnancy in the first place. Sorry for your loss, OP.

Sick pay will only be payable at the same rate as if the employee has ordinary sickness. So if there is an occupational scheme, that can be used until it is exhausted. Then SSP. But there is no right to full pay as if you weren't off sick.

I don't think the OP is listening anymore...

I think the reason that pregnancy related illnesses aren't counted is so that a pregnant woman wouldn't keep working when physically unable to do so and compromise the health of the unborn child.

So the miscarriage doesn't fit this. I can see that is doesn't seem fair and I am sorry for your loss OP.

Oops zombie thread!

I'm sure she got it all sorted in the end - it was four years ago...

In my school, while this might be an 'automated process', HR would have the decency to explain that in person! How awful. Good on you for emailing HR. Did they respond? Scrolled through so may have missed it. for you, OP

The thread was from over four years ago!

Yes but if people are interested and want to discuss it, what's the harm? Really don't get the number of "Zombie" comments. Move on if you're not interested.

Generally its protocol not to reactivate zombie threads. if you start your own thread it saves people wading through pages of posts that are several years old. Plus I would imagine that if the OP is still on MN, the last thing she needs to see on Active is something this sensitive

And someone upthread is actually asking for an update! See how pointless it is?

Bloody hell. Well I didn't look at the date as it was 'active'. Poor OP!

Was about to post a link here to the Equality and Human Rights Commission's guidance on this re the Equality Act, and then saw I already had - back in 2012.