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?

Many women can do this sort of work.
I reckon I could’ve, and I had a horrible pregnancy. But I had to perform at work so sadly every drop of energy I had went to it. The rest of the time I recovered.

OPs probably late now anyway

@MyOtherProfile
I also thought she meant pregnacare causes Multiple Sclerosis (I have never seen morning sickness shortened to MS), and was wondering how on earth that could be the case

Sorry - over relying on context. Didn’t think.

Op has no pregnancy employment rights as she hasn't told them she's pregnant. That's the first step in the protected legislation.

I would go in and come clean with your manager, then go to see GP as this could continue. Usually in probation you don't get paid for sickness absence so you'll be in a catch 22 if you stay employed but off sick and need the money.

The goal is to feel well and get back to work under protected rights, hope you feel better soon.

I thought it was multiple sclerosis too! I think pregnacare can making morning sickness worse, my midwife told me
It’s the iron. I had such bad sickness I gave up

I'm not in your country but I'm mine, if we are sick you call in sick despite how long you have been working there all that happens is unpaid leave within the first 6mths
If we are sick for more than 2 days we could be asked for a medical certificate
Can you go to the doctors get one yourself?
I worked pregnant and no one knew for 5 mths and I would caution the use of the products as well.
Don't stress find out if your entitled cause who doesn't get sick
Btw I was to scared to call in sick within the first month I was feeling worried but my employer has dependant leave bravo 5 days a year cos life happens.
Try nausea tablets if you can because I tried a few and it made life so much better for 4 mths of nausea
Don't be scared find out and ring or go get a medical certificate they don't devolge your sickness
Any decent employer supports there staff

Just lie.
Been feeling a bit ‘off’ recently and began vomiting over the weekend, took a test on Saturday and discovered pregnancy, still feeling unwell with nausea and vomiting so can’t come in today.
Would I feel guilty about it? no, employers don’t give two fucks about their staff when things get tough so you do what you need to protect yourself and your job just like they do to protect their company and their pocket.

Our place is pretty unforgiving if people call in sick during their probation period

as it should be, it does ring alarm bells but it becomes very obvious very quickly who is genuine and who is taking liberties.

To be fair, if people can't make an effort during the probation, you can't have much hope later.

Can you go to the doctors get one yourself?

non emergency appointments usually have a 2 to 3 waiting list in this country, and no GP will accept to have his time wasted to write a note for the 1st day of feeling under the weather

To be fair, if people can't make an effort during the probation, you can't have much hope later

Yes absolutely, they should tell that stomach upset or flu virus to buck its ideas up and then take them into the workplace.

People get sick. Good employers deal with it and retain their staff. Bad employers don't.

Will you physically be able to do the job, even when well? You can't do heavy lifting. The employer needs to perform a risk assessment and change your duties if they are not suitable during pregnancy. You need to tell them you are pregnant. They can't fire you for being pregnant but during probation they can fire you for any reason, so they will make one up. Especially if you immediatly can't do the job you were hired to do because you can't do the manual stuff.

I think you need to tell them sooner rather than later you are pregnant as you are putting yourself and baby at risk by not telling them. They need to do a risk assessment on you ASAP as I imagine there is heavy lifting/pushing chemicals etc that need to be taken into account. The longer you leave it the worse it will be.
As for calling in sick without them knowing of pregnancy, yes they can dismiss you...they may think you are unreliable, especially after a lovely weekend....I would go in and speak with your supervisor, tell them you've found out you are pregnant, and see how you go with sickness.
Honesty is best policy with work

You need to tell them you are pregnant and then you have legal protection. Otherwise you have few rights and they could just legally sack you.

How dare a woman try to earn some money, especially at a time in her life where she will be in additional financial need...

If ever anyone wondered why we legislate for things like antenatal and maternity rights, this thread provides good evidence.

OP, read the post by Figmentofmyimagination on page 2, it has some good (real, legally relevant) information.

I don’t deny the reality that there are plenty of rubbish employers that try to avoid their liability under the law, that employment tribunals can be hard, and no one can guarantee that your current employer won’t be one of those types. But you’re best bet is, as in Figment’s post, to tell them you’re pregnant, that it’s the reason you’re sick, and have a record of this, and take it from there.

Thanks everyone for the advice - managed to get myself into work/DS to nursery 20 minutes late. Feel like I'm going to pass out still, feel really nauseous, overloaded with duties today and don't even have a supervisor in to tell I'm not well.

I’m a SAHM and avoiding the workplace as long as I can

How lovely for you that you have that choice. Not everyone does.

Can you get hold of some ginger biscuits and constantly nibble them? The ginger treats the nausea, they are surprisingly easy to eat when you feel sick and they'll slowly bring your blood sugar up and stabilise you. I'm not suggesting they're a cure but they do help considerably. Poor you. Take it easy.

I think you should tell them, in case this isn't a one-off.

Bloody stupid to sack a good probationer because of one day sick, but sounds like you might have to make a habit of it.

when are you going to tell them about your pregnancy then.....if you think they wouldnt have employed you due to the lifting etc what do you think is going to happen when you are 20 plus weeks....youve been a bit deceptive really and it has proved awkward now you are having pregnancy related problems

Oh OP I understand that you ‘absoloutley cannot lose this job’ but at 14 weeks with low iron the chances of this being a 1 off sick day are slim and if you can’t do the physically demanding job over the coming months you HAVE to understand that you can’t do it.

It would be very different had you been in this job for a while before becoming pregnant/ ofc you would not have to leave and allowances would have to be made (I used to work in a hotel and house keeping staff went on light duties whilst pregnant. But if we hired someone who was pregnant and didn’t tell us and the pregnancy meant they could actually do the job they’d accepted- knowingly then I’m afraid we’d have considered this CF’ery of the highest kind and probably fired them. (Well the manager would - I was just a receptionist)

Pretty sure you dont have to declare pregnancy until later on in the pregnancy.

@EleanorReally no you don't have to tell until about 15w before due date I think - but your not protected from pregnancy discrimination if you haven't told them before then.

@yellowboka Ginger biscuits and ginger drinks are s good shout. Eating anything small and often is good for nausea. If your not actually being sick then GP might not do a kit, and if has been very warm. Keep drinking water regularly l.

If superviser isn't there, who is the next most senior person you could talk to?

@Smellbowpenisbeaker ahhh!

you are probably safer to say you are pregnant, as it will make them harder for them to dismiss you. Without being funny, it might not be a long-term problem because of the nature of the job. Do they have high staff turnover?