SSP and pregnancy

[Natalie132]

Hi all. I hope you don't mind but I wondered if I could ask your opinion on my situation. I've been off work for 5 months due to epilepsy. I was changing meds all year last year and my HR manager said they were going to performance manage me so I got signed off sick which I should have done long before - I have a strong work ethic lol - anyway, so I'm off sick looking at a phased return and find out I'm pregnant. Could this keep them off my back or would they still be able to performance manage when I go back?
Thanks in advance xx

Is there any reason you wont be doing your phased return? If you are off sick because of pregnancy they can't dismiss you for that, but if you are off sick for other reasons and just so happen to be pregnant as well, i should think they can.

I know the company and they have no intention of keeping me on if they can get away with getting rid of me. I won't be entitled to SMP or be able to get another job of they know I'm pregnant so I'm panicking :(

I would have a look at the disability discrimination act (dda) I have a feeling epilepsy would be covered by that. They will still try to performance manage you as it wasn't pregnancy related originally.

You need to go in fully upto date on the dos and don'ts of a long term condition, I would also give acas a ring and they can talk you through the dda as it has a lot of grey areas that can be open to interpretation. Good luck

Thank you :) xx