To think I'll be more likely to be made redundant because of this

[EyUPBurt]

AIBU to think that even though they aren't supposed to officially count situations like this, a lot of businesses will and I'll be higher up in the redundancy pile because of this?

For the past 2 years I've been suffering from recurrent miscarriage. I've been having a lot of hospital appointments, scans when I've been pregnant, surgery and time off when I've lost pregnancies (varying stages and quite a few D&C's). I've also had time off sick simply due to the emotional side of it. I can only think of 1 day off sick I've had that hasn't been to do with a miscarriage in my time there.

My last one was in February and I was off for about 2 weeks after it. We'd only seen a heartbeat a couple of weeks before and it was the furthest we'd been. I was back in work for about 3 weeks before I was furloughed.

I know that officially it's pregnancy related and therefore shouldn't be counted against me but AIBU to think a lot of businesses will still see it as an opportunity to get rid of someone who's a bit of a 'hassle'?

A friend who was speaking to me about it seems to think they won't even think about this but I think it's naive to think they won't even if they aren't supposed to.

When an employer makes someone or a small or large number of people redundant, they are supposed to use a "matrix" & take a wide variety of things into account. I anticipate that every employer would have their own criteria like
Length of employment
Skills /qualifications
Last appraisal
Sickness
Soft skills
How many redundancies required at that time

They may offer voluntary redundancy which someone may take up the offer
Then it moves to compulsory redundancy

If you are made redundant, it may offer you an opportunity to do something better

Officially they cannot consider this but it really does depend on the quantity of redundancies and whether your position is needed as much as another. Larger employers often ask for volunteers and remember it's the position that's made redundant not the person so don't take it to personally, if your position isn't required then it will be you. I've been made redundant twice, it's not nice but you pull up your socks and find something better

It depends what you do and what you achieve.

If you can only keep 1 person in a team of 2 or 3, you keep the one with the best results and the best attitude.

Then you send your choice to HR who can make a lot of waffle about it and keep it legal. It depends on your role, it depends on your boss.

I know that officially it's pregnancy related and therefore shouldn't be counted against me

I’m really sorry about what you have been through but it’s only pregnancy related whilst you are actually pregnant and for the two weeks following a miscarriage. So any time you’ve had off in excess of the immediate fortnight following your miscarriage (or date of D&C if a MMC) for the emotional side of things, is not technically speaking pregnancy related.

How supportive are your employer in general? You’re right that they shouldn’t look at this but they might and also the implication that you probably intend to be off with a pregnancy and maternity leave in the future.

but it’s only pregnancy related whilst you are actually pregnant and for the two weeks following a miscarriage

Sorry yes, I'm aware of this I should have clarified better in my OP, I've only ever had up to two weeks off after a miscarriage. For most it was less than that, a few days up to a week. The last one I was off for 2 weeks after the MC was confirmed as I was struggling emotionally and I also had to wait a week for the surgery as it was just as all this was kicking off with CV.

My Doctor actually signed me off for a month after the last one but I asked to come back earlier (after 2 weeks).

I guess the thing is that if I'm honest I probably haven't been massively enthusiastic recently as I've had a lot of other stuff going on and I've been depressed tbh. That's not works problem though of course.

Only you know your attendance and performance at work, caused by any reason. If you were your employer, what would you do?

I work in HR and sad to say, I've been instructed to fiddle scoring for redundancy selection more times than I can remember. In fact, its surprising when it doesn't happen. Usually it's to select those who would cost the most to make redundant but I have seen it in other situations too.

However your employer may be one of the nice ones who doesn't do this. Or he stupid enough not to cover their tracks... any sniff of discrimination and get straight on yo ACAS re a claim.

I've been instructed to fiddle scoring for redundancy selection more times than I can remember.

you are not fiddling, you are making the process socially and legally acceptable and helping to run the business efficiently

being efficient and protecting the whole business and people working in it IS being nice to the majority

I guess the thing is that if I'm honest I probably haven't been massively enthusiastic recently as I've had a lot of other stuff going on and I've been depressed tbh. That's not works problem though of course.

It’s a tough one because ultimately most companies are pragmatic and will keep the person who does the best work, fits in best of all, or is regarded as reliable etc. It’s often quite easy to manage somebody out for performance issues, even when the reality is that their face doesn’t fit but they are just as capable as the next person when it comes to doing the job.

All that said, miscarriages or stillbirths are things some employers have a lot of understand and sympathy for. Lots of couples will have experienced a miscarriage or later end to their pregnancy, so even if they don’t say there can be compassion for it. Lots and lots of odd days off following binge drinking doesn’t have the same level of understanding.

I hope you have a smooth pregnancy soon and things are ok with your work.

I've been made redundant

The best thing to do is to not take it personally (it's difficult)

A "bean counter"somewhere, has to reduce costs, which include wages, pensions other benefits to keep the business running or sell or close the business. This may mean the loss of jobs
However, it doesn't stop the company employing people 6 months later