Banished from work - what can I do?

[YBR]

I was taken aside by my boss this morning and basically told to get my GP to sign me off work, and if I refused to they'd force me to go anyway (suspension on health grounds?). I know it would be a full pay thing and I guess they can do this legally but ... I don't want to stop working so early and I see no reason to.

I am a Design Engineer in a safety critical role, and 26 weeks preg. I've had the last week off with an infection and the boss obviously thinks I can't do my job safely. I'm upset that they don't seem to trust me, or my ability, or my honesty (I would say if I wasn't up to it, and have done).

I don't know whether they want me to stay off until maternity leave or what, and this was a verbal thing - I've nothing in writing. I'm sure that in some ways I'm being unreasonable as the company is showing concern for my health blah, blah, blah but I don't think I could cope mentally with the extra months enforced idleness plus I'm infuriated that they'd do this without consulting me. The boss was not prepared to listen to me, and it seems that he has been advised on this by some H&S bloke who doesn't know me, and I doubt I've ever met.

Has this happened to anyone else? Any suggestions how to fight it?

Have they done a risk assessment with you? They should do one each trimester, and you ought to be given input and a copy.

They have done risk assessments. This seems to be little to with it.

I think you need to go back and talk to your boss. It's not clear whether they are thinking of sending you off on full pay or whether he is actually undermining you here.
FWIW I worked in a very similar role for my first preg and it was an actual first for the department (crazy, eh?) so at the time they did panic and overreact about a few things. Maybe your is is the same?

I worked up to 36/37 weeks then btw

You can't just "get" your gp to sign you off work!!! You'd have to explain to your gp exact how your "sickness" is preventing you from carrying out your duties. And it sounds like you don't believe that is the case so they're asking you to lie!!
These days it's a "fit note" anyway so would list what you CAN still do.

I'm pretty sure there's a stage in your pregnancy where if you end up off sick and it's pregnancy related, your employer is obliged to start your maternity leave. I'd be extremely surprised if it was as early as this though...I'd thought it was only after 30 weeks. Then again, it sounds like he's encouraging you to go off sick up until the predetermined mat leave date

I'll have a look into this myself actually!

Hi OP -

Have a look at this: www.maternityaction.org.uk/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/sicknessduringpregnancymaternityleave.pdf

Quite literally your rights are outlined on the first page. If the risk assessment deems you can do your job as described and you feel able to continue working, at your current stage your employer must treat you as any other employee would be treated in regards to your recent sickness (other than logging it as pregnancy related).

I think it's quite out of line that he's practically telling you to lie to the GP about whether you still feel able to work. I'd question your boss's motives...is there someone already lines up to cover your role by any chance?

There is nobody to cover my role, and there won't be during Maternity leave - too specialist, plus they've been trying to recruit at my level for a couple of years with limited success.

I will try to get a GP appointment tomorrow and tell him the whole truth, then take what he says back to the boss and go from there. I'm going to try and get everything in writing from now on.

Jolleigh Thanks for that - it confirms what I already thought was the case.
myusername Yes, the only previous pregnancy the boss has dealt with was mine. They do tend to panic a little, but if only they'd talk with/listen to me!

Right signing off sick because you are sick due to pregnancy (hyperemesis, spd etc) is different from the 'unable to perform role because you're pregnant'.
Any idea which one they want?
The second scenario is risk assessment linked (and sounds more likely?) and they either find you an alternative role or suspend you on full pay.

I would get the manager to explain in writing (email then you can track the timing/read receipts) what the reasoning and justification is behind his request for you to be signed off, given that there was no indication from risk assessments that your work or work environment were an issue at this time. Are you a union member? If so give them a ring!

What does your risk assessment say you can or can' t do ?

I am a Civil Engineer and worked to 37 weeks in both pg, despite 8 weeks off earlier in both pg due to hyperemisis. Sometimes it helps to have a female boss and a very reasonable employer!