Going to try and get signed off today, advice?

[x0gawjus0x]

I'm 35 weeks pregnant, I work in a 54 room dementia nursing home and I really have had enough if walking up and down 4 flights of stairs pushing wheelchairs and hoists etc it's all getting too much for me physically my back is suffering so badly I'm being seen twice weekly at the hospital due to my Bp and it's all just driving me mad.
I only have a week till my maternity starts but I'm genuinely exhausted and I've never been signed off do I just straight up just ask or what?

Thanks 4 advice x

I think that late into your pregnancy they will make you start maternity leave early but you can always ask

They shouldn't make you start your maternity leave early until you hit the 36 week mark, and it sounds like you're booked to leave then anyway.

Go and see your midwife or GP. Tell then you haven't gone to work today/don't feel able to go tomorrow because of x, y and z. I would be straight with the GP and say you're off on maternity leave from next week, but you just don't think you can manage work/the commute/the stairs/manual handling any more.

I suspect they'll sign you off if you are genuinely unable to do the things you need to do for your job. If not, you can self certificate for up to 5 days - would that get you to maternity leave?

Good luck, and I hope you feel better soon.

Cry.

They won't sign you of if you can self certificate.

Sorry that's not overly helpful. I had problems being signed off when I didn't want to be! Obviously they were right and I was just being a martyr.

I would just self-cert unless your company policy is less than 5 days.

I feel your pain. 35 weeks here too and even without the physical aspects, getting to work is proving v difficult!!

Dont self certificate as you wont get paid SSP for the first 3 or 5 days cant remember which, not knowing your finances this may or may not cause problems

Im signed off at the moment with depression . . . went in for back pain?? anyway all you need to do is tell the Dr what you put in your post, its causing problems with back pain, high BP, Exhaustion and anything else like its making you stressed due to worrying about hurting baby by accident

When i saw my Dr she actually asked me what i was hoping for from seeing her, i said i was hoping to be signed off but understood if she wanted to try something else first, wonderful woman signed me off for a month

"Dont self certificate as you wont get paid SSP for the first 3 or 5 days"

It's three days and getting signed off by a doctor rather than self-certifying makes no difference to that.

If you've only got a week to go, just ring in sick and self-certify for the week.

Oh and you can get signed off by Dr even if you have the option to self certificate

Most Drs will refuse to sign you off if you are in the first 7 calender days off work. Self certifying and having a drs note will make zero difference to any sicknpay entitlement.

Personally unless you require medication I'd be inclined to cancel your GP appointment and just call in sick if you really cant manage work. If you think you can manage some work but not your full duties your Dr might write restrictions on your "sick note" which your employer must adhere to. If they cant your note will work as a "sick note"

FYI the form is called a fit note these days or its actual name is a MED3

I'm pretty clued up on sickness and employment due to my previous job (I worked in benefits)

Hope thia helps

My Dr won't sign off while you can self certify. Also don't think they can make you start mat leave until you get to 36 weeks ( work may well try that one though).

I'd just come straight out and ask.

Hi i am in the same boat. I havent been to work this week and dnt intend on going back tomorro or fri, my boss has suggested i get signed off for nxt week then il be back at work for one week before my mat leave starts. I think i have spd and its starting to get alot more painful so hoping gp will agree to sign me off. I do have to go in for my last week tho (ill ne 36 weeks then) as need to do hand over and say bye to everone but unsure whether gp will sign me off jst one week or how to ask them for jst one week!