Please tell me before I ring in sick - could I get fired in this situation?

[yellowboka]

I work in housekeeping/cleaning, it's quite a physically demanding job.
I've only worked there for 3 weeks.
I'm 14 weeks pregnant although haven't told them yet as I was worried they'd turn me away due to the nature of the job and lifting etc.
They're short-staffed as it is, it will cause a really difficult day if I call in sick but I'm really, really nauseous and light-headed and almost passing out - I'm sure it's because my iron is so low.

I absolutely can't lose this job. Can I get fired for calling in sick 3 weeks in or because I'm pregnant and it's an unsuitable job or what?

Tbh you will have more protection if you tell them you are pg. Whilst you can be sacked for ALMOST any reason in the first 2 years of any job, the exception to that is that you can't be sacked for a reason which is to do with discrimination on any protected characteristic - one of which is pregnancy/maternity status. They can still sack you if the reason is non-discriminatory eg if a pregnant person can't do the job and there are no reasonable adjustments that could make it possible (the heavy lifting you mention could trigger that but seriously you can give yourself a miscarriage and a permanent injury by doing heavy lifting in pregnancy - really don't go there. Declare the pregnancy.

If you claim it's a sickness bug they are likely to sack you anyway - either because they only want employees who are dedicated enough to come in when feeling unwell, or because the mention of nausea will make them suspect pregnancy anyway and if they sack you before you tell them you're pregnant then the above protections don't apply.

I'd try and get in and tell them you are pregnant, they have to make adjustments.

They can't let you go for anything linked to your pregnancy but can let you go in the first 2 years for any other reason.

Have you had your iron levels checked ?

Tell them you are pregnant.

I work in HR and had this situation pretty recently. A new hire announced on her first day that she was 11 weeks pregnant. It's a pain for your employer and they are likely to be pretty pissed off but there is absolutely nothing they can do about it without risking maternity discrimination.

They can sack you for being pregnant.

To get recompense you will then need to take them for tribunal for unfair dismissal, this costs approx £800 at the moment I believe.

You will then be awarded compensation which bearing in mind the nature of the job and short service, will be very little.

Despite this, I think if they want to sack you for being pregnant they’ll do it whether or not you call in sick. I would personally go in today and see how things go- at least you’ll have employment for the next few weeks until you need to tell them, then you can see what happens after that

Why on earth did you take a cleaning job when 11 weeks pregnant, you knew the job would be physically demanding and that you wouldn’t be able to do it for very long as your pregnancy progresses?

As you are still in probation let alone the first two years of employment they can release you when they like if you aren’t performing/ attendance levels are not as expected

You’d have more rights advising them if your pregnancy as other posters have said

pregnancy shouldn't stop a cleaning job surely?

In my experience, women have found that they’re better looked after once they’ve told their employer because they have to be so careful.

Also, a lot of people find that pregnacare causes MS. Just in case.

To get recompense you will then need to take them for tribunal for unfair dismissal, this costs approx £800 at the moment I believe

Tribunal fees have been scrapped.

Why do people give advice when they clearly don’t have a clue?

And why people post in AIBU about employment matters rather than “Employment Matters” is beyond me too.

To all the relevant PPs: they can't get in trouble for sacking her owing to pregnancy if (per the OP) she hasn't told them she's fucking pregnant.

Apologies I missed the news that they had been scrapped. Either way, it’s not accurate to say they can’t sack you. No one is going to stop them.

While pregnant, you have a right not to be dismissed or treated detrimentally in any way (eg a warning) due to your pregnancy or to pregnancy-related sickness absence.

If you are sacked while pregnant or on maternity leave your employer must provide a written explanation for your dismissal. This is a day one right.

There is no fee to issue a tribunal claim - this was abolished in 2017.

You will have no legal protection unless you tell your employer you are pregnant (otherwise their actions will not be due to your pregnancy).

You can tell your line manager as well as/alternative to HR. Whoever you tell, it is wise to get a record - eg a text or email, but also good idea do it in person by phone to help keep them on side and more likely to treat you as a human being.

Good luck.

Btw if your job is physically demanding you also have the right to a pregnancy risk assessment and to reasonable temporary changes to your job if these are medically necessary. If no reasonable changes are possible, you have the right to be sent home on full pay - called a maternity suspension. If you are an employee, this again is a day one right.

No wonder women of child bearing age are discriminated against in hiring. This is why employers get pissed off. Took a physically demanding job knowing she was pregnant, and will immediately be asking for adjustments.

Also, a lot of people find that pregnacare causes MS. Just in case.
My goodness that's a massive statement @Smellbowpenisbeaker do you have anything to back that up?

If you are not sure what to do for the best, call the Maternity Action helpline.

Ha sorry, no. Fair point. Purely anecdotal.

thedancingbear, presumably she can tell them she is pregnant and it is pregnancy symptoms that mean she can't go into work.

Hang on do you mean multiple sclerosis or morning sickness?

You say you cannot lose this job. how do you think you can carry on for the next months?

Once you tell them you are pregnant, they will have to do a risk assessment. I am not sure what the implications are if the nature of the work is considered a health and safety concern in your situation.

Your bump won't get smaller. I think you were very unreasonable to take on a job in the first place when you knew that you couldn't do it physically.

Why on earth did you take a cleaning job when 11 weeks pregnant

Most people don't start a permanent job until they have gone through an application process which may take any number of weeks or even months. Why do you assume she knew?

Even if she did, plenty of housekeepers/cleaners work through pregnancy or should women only apply for sedentary jobs just incase they get pregnant before starting or during the first two years?

@MyOtherProfile Morning sickness!

Sorry OP - you might be on shaky ground here. I sympathise though - I had HG for about 7 months. It’s awful feeling sick.

Why shouldn’t OP take a job? She needs to earn money like everyone else. There are no jobs reserved for non pregnant women

I’m not sure how you’ll be able to do the job as ur pregnancy progresses though ?

I'd go in and get sent home. Did they know you were pregnant when they hired you? (I'm only asking because if you tell them now they might get arsey about it, despite what the law says).

It really sucks, but if you can't work, you can't work. But it still really sucks.