Work issues

[RockChick1984]

Hi, just after a bit of advice / support here really. I'm 23 weeks pregnant at the moment. I work in a sales role, which is fairly high pressure but I've always been fine with this. About a year ago i got a new manager, who I've never really clicked with, she is more the sort who punishes rather than praises. When I found out I was pregnant I told her at about 7 weeks, as I was suffering from low blood pressure and I keeled over in work a few times, so I wanted her to be aware of the situation. I have had a difficult time adjusting to my pregnancy, both physically and mentally, although I am happily married we had not planned on babies for at least a few years! I got myself very stressed with non-work things, and haywire hormones, and was struggling to hit my targets at work, therefore increasing my stress. My manager was very unsympathetic, threatening me with disciplinaries for not hitting targets, and tellin me it was unacceptable to take time off work to go the hospital (I was having severe pains and was told to go to A&E by nhs direct for an emergency scan). I ended up bring signed off work for 2 months by my dr with stress and depression caused by work and pregnancy. I have never been signed off before, and didn't want to look bad to my employer (a massive high street company) so after 2 months off I tried to go back to work, lasted a week and a half and had to be signed off again (this was a week ago). I thought (possibly naively) that things would improve, and my managers would realise that I was trying my best but just not achieving as well as I had before, but this was not to be, I went back and was expected to make up for sales missed while I was off! Sorry this is so long, basically I want to know if anyone else has experienced anything similar, and if I don't go back before my mat leave starts will this impact on my ability to get a job elsewhere in future, or can I treat it as pregnancy related illness? I'm starting my leave end of jan, so it's not long away really! Xx

If I were you (and could afford if) I would just get signed off for work until after the baby is born. Thing is though, if you are 23 weeks that means you aren't due until March so it is a long time to go on statutory sick pay. You will have to check with HR what your contract allows you. I have also heard though it can affect your maternity pay but again you need to check that with HR.

Good luck, I hope you feel better soon.

Working Families have a free helpline for pregnancy related work problems 0800 013 0313

Your manager has obviously never been pregnant! She's sounds like a right b#*ch!
The most important thing for you and your baby is for you to relax and not get stressed and if that means not working till your maternity leave then so be it, they can't fire you cause you are sick while pregnant!
Hang in there and try not to let thoughts of your job ruin the thoughts of the beautiful little baby your going to have!

Thanks everyone, I've had a look on my contract and I get 6 months full pay before I drop to ssp, so hopefully they can't drop my salary as I've only had about 1 week sick prior to this! I hate feeling like they have beaten me, but I am worried how it'll affect my baby an he's the most important for me to consider now. Your kind words mean a lot, it's good to know I'm not alone with all this - hubby is fantastic but I know he gets worried about me and is too emotionally involved to be objective an just tell me to grow up an get on with things if that's what I needed to do! Xx

Just wanted to add another message of support. I'm currently off with stress and 12 wks pregnant, and although my situation at work is quite different to yours, I can still very much understand how you feel.

6 months' full pay for sick leave is pretty amazing - I get 2 months full pay and 2 months half pay, so I'm going to have to try to go back in a couple of weeks when the 2 months is up as I can't afford to live on half pay, let alone SSP. TBH I'm really not sure what I will do if it's not a success.

Just a couple more practical points to add:

If you are off sick for a pregnancy related illness, it is not meant to count against your sick record - and so this should not count against you when you apply for future jobs, e.g. if they ask about your sick leave when they request a reference.

(I myself need to look into this, as I feel, like you, that the fact I'm off sick is a combination of stress at work and various issues relating to being P.)

As some people have pointed out in other employment related threads, if you do decide to go back at some point, you can go back with a sick note that states reduced hours, but this affects your pay - so you are better off financially being signed off sick.

Your employer is required to offer you a health and safety risk assessment because you are pregnant.

And finally, if you are considering not returning after ML, make sure you check your contract - some places require that you return for a certain period of time after your agreed ML, or else you have to pay some of the money back. (But this would be in relation to any money they pay above SMP.) I have two friends who really did not want to return to their job but have had to go back for a year as they couldn't afford not to.

Ive asked for a transfer due to P related illness and previous history of poor emotional health. I work for a large local authority, my current dept are very happy to complete the risk assessment (legal obligation) and send me elsewhere :o
Im currently on sick leave and will go back in two weeks, if necessary I'll ask my GP to sign me off again in the New Year.
To start with my manager was dreadful (as far as she could legally get away with), now we will be very happy to be separated until my maternity leave is over. I will try and get permanently moved later.

RockChick I went through something very similar when I was pregnant. The guilt of not going to work was horrendous but as you say you have to put your baby first. Have you already told your boss when you want to start mat leave? I was just going to say that if you haven't you might consider getting signed off with pregnancy related sickness by your GP for a little longer and then start mat leave later giving you maximum time with your DC. Also just for info they can put you onto maternity leave if you are ill and signed off from work up to 4 weeks prior to your EDD so I had to start my mat leave earlier than I wanted to due to this.

Good luck with everything, I really hope it works out for you.

Your manager is obviously unaware of her legal responsibilities - e.g. she legally cannot discipline you in any way for pregnancy related sick leave. AFAIK, this would include expecting you to make up time taken off sick with pregnancy related problems.

You are entitled to paid time off for antenatal appts
You cannot be dicsiplined(sp?) for pg related illness(or fired)
Your employer HAS to do a risk assessment by law
If your manager continues like this, speak to her manager or HR, if no joy, consider legal advice. This sounds very much like bullying/harrassment in the workplace - get signed off by Dr and consider all avenues.
You and your baby are the most important thing right now.

Like angelbabe I would say speak to your boss' boss, or to HR... work are not able to frown upon your attendance of ante-natal appt nor any other hospital appt. An HR person would have a fit if she realised your manager was telling you that you couldn't attend hospital!
This is not your fault or an issue with how you operate - it's down to your managers' ignorance.
Sadly, a minority of people do take liberties with maternity rights - and sick leave generally for that metter - but that isn't your fault or your responsibility.

Your manager is treading on very dangerous ground. There is a lot of legal stuff protecting you and your baby at work. If your reasons for being off are pregnancy related they do not go on you work record as general sickness, which might effect promotion, transfer or new employer decisions. You are meant to have a pregnancy risk assessment which should highlight any need for a change in working conditions, work load etc. And your employer has to respond to this.

Go above your immediate boss. She doesn't know what she's doing and is liable to land herself in serious trouble and you on long term sick if this isn't dealt with properly. Our HR department would be having kittens if some middle management up-start was treating a pregnant woman like this. Don't you deal with it, you don't need the stress, pass on facts to your HR people which as you work for a big firm I'm sure you have.

I think you are allowed up to 4 hours per week paid for antenatal appointments and they can't stop you going to more than that if you GP/MW feels it necessary, although I think they can refuse to pay you.

Thankyou so much everyone for your support. I've got another 3 weeks signed off, so am just gunna wait for now and see how I feel at the end of it. However, if I go back I will definately raise the issues with either hr or my area manager, as I can't carry on like this, and I would hate to see anyone else goin through it! Xx

I'd suggest you consider speaking to HR BEFORE you go back. Your boss sounds incredibly ignorant of her legal responsibilities and I guarantee her behaviour will not change when you go back unless you pre-empt it. Ring them and arrange to go in for a meeting about it.

It'll be easier while you're off than when you have to face your boss.