back to work

[FutureNannyOgg]

Going back to work tomorrow after 2 weeks signed off post mc.
Urg, really don't want to go through explaining it all, a couple of my close work friends know as I have been open about it with my friends, but I don't get on with my line manager and I really don't want to have to deal with her. My drs note says mc on there, so its going to come up. She's funny about fitness to work and I am dreading her being judgemental and getting huffy about it not being enough reason, but actually, I'm not sure I'm ready to go back even now.
I was going to quit this job after mat leave, now I've lost the baby I can't even tell myself its just a few more months.

She can't argue with a doctor's note. You could involve your union/complain to her superior if she did. She might surprise you either by being quite sympathetic, or just by being embarrassed as people often are and not really wanting to get into it with you.
Hope it goes better than you think - you've had enough to cope with.

Poor you. I know how you feel, I would feel the same, I have not been having a good time at work and although I would have gone back after mat leave, it has been an added stress to think that that "escape" I thought there would be might go.

You are very protected legally as it counts as a pregnancy-related illness so can't go on your regular work record. However, if you think you need more time, you should arrange this now as that protection only lasts for the initial signing off e.g. if you go back and then feel that you need more time, that would be counted as "normal sick" and go on your record.

Hi Hun she cannot argue and if she does ask your Gp to maybe ring her. Most gps are pretty good. I tried to go back to work today but was politely told to bugger off and put my feet up and rest and they had covered my shifts. Like the others say go to her manager if you get grief, you have been through enough already.

Working9while5 I thought that too (about it being a pg related illness) when I asked my union rep I was told mc definitely didn't count, which seems completely daft to me. It shouldn't make any difference to the OP though, the sicknote she has is perfectly adequate.

Hi FutureNannyOg how did it go? Felt the same as you after my MCs but felt lot better once the first day was out the way. Current line manager is, luckily, lovely. Previous one was v awkward and I felt bleurgh having to talk to him but then he totally surprised me by being great, really sympathetic - even shared that he and his wife had suffered a few MCs. So you never know what will happen. Good luck.

Hi iggi, I think your union rep is wrong. The reason pregnancy related illness is not counted is because of sex discrimination (e.g. it can't happen to men!) so this applies to miscarriage too. It's not about pregnancy per se, it's about only women needing this time.

See this information

Thank you for that link. The rep did say she'd checked it out with our council but I'm quite happy for her to be wrong - I'd like to follow it up actually, I just felt a bit too vulnerable at the time to argue.

Definitely! I know I would have felt exactly the same but it is discriminatory to count it as regular sickness. I am an NHS worker and know it "counts" as pregnancy-related illness. It sucks enough to have to go through all that as it is without worrying it is on your record, how could you debate it if it came to be considered in restructuring etc? Most of us would never want to discuss it in that type of situation, for obvious reasons. I hope you get a good result.

Wow, can't believe I was given such dud advice (I remember being in floods of tears at the time, as I thought it would count against me when appying for a new job). I'm a teacher, I can't see my local authority not being aware of equality legislation.