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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for a Dr's note in my maiden name ?

78 replies

whereeverIlaymyhat · 26/06/2009 16:29

Asked to be signed off for a week on Monday morning, to have IVF this week. Asked for it to be in my maiden name and not to mention IVF at all. I do not want work to know I am married or trying for a baby as I would be sacked.
I've gone in to collect it today.
In the name of Mrs xyz and for gyno procedure, am steaming did not need this crap today.

OP posts:
Sidge · 26/06/2009 21:22

You can self certify for a week. You don't need a certificate at all. You just phone up work and tell them you won't be in until next Monday 6th.

Cistus · 26/06/2009 21:32

it is also against the law to lie on a Med3

LovelyTinOfSpam · 26/06/2009 21:34

I'm not sure that's right about self cert? I have worked places where more than 3 days you had to have a doctors note...

If you wanted to be paid anyway.

Maybe i will have a quick google.

Casserole · 26/06/2009 21:38

It used to be 3 days but it was extended to a week (think GPs couldn't be arsed)

LovelyTinOfSpam · 26/06/2009 21:40

Thanks casserole. My googling wasn't getting me anywhere fast!

bamboostalks · 26/06/2009 21:40

Are you a nun?

Sidge · 26/06/2009 21:48

It is 7 days. I used to work in a GP surgery and they wouldn't give sick notes for the first 7 days off work.

This link here may clarify to the OP why the GP can't put another name or diagnosis on the sick note. A sick note from a GP isn't like a note from your mum excusing you from PE, it's a legal document!

MrsMuddle · 26/06/2009 21:48

bamboostalks, !

Grendle · 26/06/2009 21:52

A gynae procedure could be a follow-up to a smear or a cyst or something totally unrelated to pregnancy. Is there no way you could hint that this is the case? If you can get hold of a GP they may be understanding. When I had a miscarriage, the GP wrote the cause of sickness on my note as "debility" , which was nice and vague.

I agree with looking into whether or not you actually need the sicknote.

I'm surprised to hear you feel it would be a prob for them to know you're married, though can understand you not wanting to raise suspicions about potential babies.

Sheeta · 26/06/2009 21:55

Call in sick with flu, and then look for another job.

Sounds like you work for arseholes. Are you in the mobile industry by any chance?

Seriously... sacked for being married? Um...

SoupDragon · 26/06/2009 21:56

OK, it's in your married name but they've not mentioned IVF at all. You could have any number of gynaecological problems. None of which your employer will be in a hurry to ask you about.

I would have thought you could get away with having it changed to your maiden name on the grounds that it is the name you use at work and the name is already in your records though.

Casserole · 26/06/2009 21:57

LOL Bamboo

Going back to the OP... I really don't think most people would read "gynae" and think "IVF". And your GP does need to comply with the law. Can understand your worry about your employers not liking the trying for a baby thing. Do you really think they'd get rid of you just for being married though?

mumeeee · 26/06/2009 23:58

YABU to ask for a dovtors note in your maiden name. The doctor wouldn't be allowed to give you one. Your work can't sack you for bieng marriedand trying for a baby as that is illegal.

Original poster
whereeverIlaymyhat · 26/06/2009 23:59

Yes they would get rid of me for who I'm married too, rather than just plain old married and that would be apparent by my married name.
I wasn't asking anyone to lie at all just be less specific.
Anyway thanks for the heads up I'll get a self cert, they won't pay me either am well aware of that but just need to keep the job.

OP posts:
Scorpette · 27/06/2009 00:11

If you work over a certain amount of hours then you can have a day off or a few hours, etc., and they HAVE to pay you. Just throw a sickie. As someone else said, your married name is only convention, so if you tell the Dr you use your maiden name professionally, then they have to reissue you a note with that name. And if the bosses want to know more about 'Gynae' things, just go into elaborate detail about vaginal discharge or something similar - that should shut them up.

Seriously though, your employers sound like they are really shabby and law-breaking. If you know they sack women for getting pregnant (even if they say it's for other reasons), then shouldn't you be looking for another job? I wouldn't want to work for people like that even if I didn't want kids!

TheYearOfTheCatMPADist · 27/06/2009 00:35

I use my maiden name professionally (through which I also have private medical insurance under my maiden name), but am registered with my GP under my married name. There has never been a problem having sick notes or letters done under my maiden name.

MadameDefarge · 27/06/2009 00:52

The one year employment law does not apply to cases of sexual discrimination, I believe.

Blondeshavemorefun · 27/06/2009 09:28

"Yes they would get rid of me for who I'm married too, rather than just plain old married and that would be apparent by my married name"

who are you married to?

the boss? md? etc

does your dh work with you?

BoffinMum · 27/06/2009 09:35

I am not a lawyer, but I seem to remember some bit of law that says as long as you are not intending to defraud anyone, you can call yourself anything you like at any time, so if you ask the doctor to put your maiden name on the form, there's not a lot he/she can do about it. Anyway, your maiden name continues to exist even if you're married, you just choose to use your husband's surname, do you not?

edam · 27/06/2009 09:38

Do you mean your married name is, I dunno, Asian or something and they'd sack you because they are racist as well as sexist?

Sounds like a horrible, law-breaking company. And Madame's right, sex discrimination claims don't depend on length of employment.

elliott · 27/06/2009 09:39

I agree you should just self certify - you shouldn't need more than a week off. If its that much of a problem why not use annual leave instead? Then no questions asked.
I did have IVF by the way but never had a problem with the time off (I think all I needed was about a week for the egg collection and I never had a doctor's note for any of it). What have you been doing about the other time off needed for scans etc?
Regarding the name, I never changed my name on marriage so all my documents are in my own original name. I would have thought it would be possible to get a sick note (if needed) in your professional name.

dizzydixies · 27/06/2009 09:40

oh an intrigued, who did you marry?!

elliott · 27/06/2009 09:42

tbh if I was so worried about work finding out about IVF treatment I would be using annual leave rather than sick leave, and would have thought about this rather further in advance than 2 days before I needed time off!

Which particular aspect of the treatment are you about to have and for how long? Why do you need a sick note at all?

BoffinMum · 27/06/2009 09:43

I reckon she's married to a rock god.

PerfectPrefect · 27/06/2009 09:51

TBH I can't see that the GP has done anything wrong.

As it has said on this thread a sick note is a legal document. To put anything other than your legal (married) name on would have been breaking the law.

To lie about the "illness" would also be breaking the law. There are hundreds of Gynae procedures - that is sufficiently vague.

I agree - the first 7 days should be self cert (assuming your first day off is Monday).

Your boss doesn't have to see the sick note I don't think - but your occupational health do - where I think it could be confidential. That is certainly how it works where I am and I thought that was the law.