To ask to be put on furlough?

[Floopyandtired]

I am 10 weeks pregnant and really struggling. I am on cyclizine for sickness which does help with the vomiting, but it leaves me completely whacked and doesn’t help the relentless nausea. I spend all my spare time lying in bed or sleeping. Standing up makes me dizzy.

I’d been on part time furlough until 1st November when I returned to my normal working hours. I took Friday off as sick due to gone above and I’m tempted to do the same for today. I’m thinking it would be better for my company (small family run business) and myself if they put me back on furlough for the rest of the month.

WIBU to suggest this?

Sorry if this makes no sense I’m feeling rotten. Thanks in advance.

Furlough isn’t a sickness scheme so I think YABU.

Pregnancy sickness is awful though so I do sympathise with you but you need to take sick leave

I'm sorry you're feeling unwell. I would suggest taking some time off sick as you're clearly struggling. Whether to furlough you is your employer's decision so I guess you could suggest it, but they don't have to.

That’s really not what the furlough scheme is for. And your company could be financially penalised if they use it incorrectly. If you’re sick, you need to take sick leave. Hope you feel better soon.

As others have said this is sickness (pregnancy related) so no reason to be furloughed from a company pov. Also if you take time off because of sickness (long term) they would be allowed to find a replacement which I understand it’s not allowed if you’re furloughed

Take sick leave. Pregnancy related sickness cannot be held against you whereas asking for furlough can.

I was signed off for four months and then did a graduated return for another month. I was sick throughout but the worst was weeks 4-20. Take care of yourself.

There’s a BRILLIANT thread in pregnancy for sufferers of HG, they will support you through questions like this.

Yes, YABU because that's not what it is for. You need to be signed off sick.

Get signed off by the doctor if you are sick.

Furlough isn't a sickness scheme and presumably you want this because it's more beneficial £ than sick pay? Not exactly in the spirit of it....

Morning sickness is awful but your first port of call is the GP.

Thank you, I appreciate the swift responses. I guess I’m thinking furlough would save the company some money, but thinking about it that sounds very dodgy. I just don’t want to keep taking sick days and letting everyone down. I don’t even know if a doctor would sign me off for morning sickness. All I know is I can’t function like this and do a good job.

Difficult one as this isn't what the furlough scheme is intended for, but can see how tempting it would be to suggest it, you then still get nearly your full salary and the company doesn't lose out financially. I'd imagine you'd only get statutory sick pay if it's a small business? Can your work be covered by other staff?

YABU. Furlough is not sick leave; if you need time off then that’s what you’ll have to take.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/4011907-Hyperemesis-Support

YABVU. The furlough scheme is for people who can’t do their job due to Covid. It isn’t a sickness programme. Take sick leave like everyone else has to.

YABU that is not what Furlough is for.

was signed off for four months and then did a graduated return for another month. I pretty sure that wouldn't be an option for a small business.

Also has business reduced because of covid? If the business has to furlough someone it makes sense to make it you but if they weren't intending to then it's a bit dodgy.

My GP signed me off work for HG. Speak to the GP

@Floopyandtired

I suffered HG with DS and was signed off sick for 7 months. I am now 8 weeks into another pregnancy, not quite as bad as last time but still hideous by regular standards so trust me I get where you’re at. Cyclizine tripped me out too.

However, I think maybe you don’t get the enormity
of what you’re suggesting. ‘Saving the company some money’ is actually defrauding the government. It’s the equivalent of saying ‘I want to save myself some money so I’m not gonna tell UC my boyfriend has moved in’ it’s actually pretty illegal and taking advantage of the system.

It’s circumstances like this which are causing all kinds of scandal around the furlough scheme and threatening to remove support from those who actually qualify/need it.

You need to be signed off sick. You are sick. You are not ‘unable to work due to covid’ you are ‘unable to work due to being sick’

No harm discussing it, you might get lucky and find that your boss (or their spouse) has had hyperemesis and are sympathetic to your cause. Other than that you will have to take sick leave and whatever sick pay you are eligible for.

Tiring yourself out working will only make the nausea worse. Worth seeing your gp again to see if you can try a different antiemetic.

Do what you would’ve done if you were pregnant this time last year!!!

Thank you everyone for continuing to respond. I do appreciate it as my brain clearly isn’t functioning well right now. I work for a company that services the house building industry, so we’ve had peaks and troughs (like many other businesses I know). I was last back off part time furlough but that was partly because I needed help with childcare (which is a legitimate reason to use the furlough scheme I believe?) sorry if there are any other questions I’ve not answered. Oh, I get full sick pay for the first 4 weeks then statutory.

Also, I think maybe you’re seeing furlough pay as very tempting. I understand that especially is SSP is your alternative BUT just like tax aversion...etc the furlough system is being monitored and cases of ‘fraud’ are being picked up.

Remember that with HG you’ll no doubt have many many GP/hospital visits on your records and medications. I would personally be worried that further down the line someone will put 2 and 2 together and realise you were sick the whole time
and furloughed fraudulently

Go back to your doctor and ask to try a different medicine. I took ondansetron and it helped a lot with both the vomiting and nausea. The only side effect was it wore off a bit after 6 weeks

Furlough isnt free money.

It has to come from somewhere. The government already has a huge bill from this. It was needed for industries told that they cannot operate - this is not you. You should go on sick leave if you can't work. Chat to your GP.

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland To be fair, in the last lock down the building trade came to a holt as the builders merchants closed down - there was loads of work but it couldnt be done due to lack of materials. Hopefully this time it wont happen.

You can only be put on furlough if there is no work for you. Your employer would have to state this for you to get it. They would still have to.pay your NIC and pension and give you accrued holiday and they would be liable to prosecution. The furlough scheme is full of fraudulent claims. Just ring GP surgery and ask for a sick note if you don't feel well enough to work.