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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Pregnancy sick leave - attendance review?

32 replies

Dinnerfor1 · 15/10/2014 11:28

I'm currently on sick leave due to pregnancy related problems. I've been off for four weeks so far.

Work have just let me know that they will be inviting me to an attendance review to discuss this.

I know pregnancy related absence should be recorded separately to regular sick leave. Can work ask me to attend a meeting? Due to my sickness it will be quite difficult for me to get to there.

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Original poster

Dinnerfor1 · 15/10/2014 11:37

And also the person I spoke to asked if I would have to start my maternity leave, as I am so sick. I am only 15 weeks pregnant! I am concerned they are not properly informed about maternity rights.

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Nessalina · 15/10/2014 11:43

It's ok for them to ask to see you to review your sickness - they may have some options for you to do a phased return with some allowances for your illness, but only with your doctor's agreement. If you have a sick note in place saying no work then you're not insured to be on work premises anyway. Employers still have a right to come and check that you're not running a wedding planning business from your home They have to come to you though, you're not obliged to go in to work (coz you're sick!!).
With regards mat leave, the earliest you can go on leave (by mutual consent with you and work) is 29 weeks pregnant. They cannot legally bully you to go earlier, they need to pay you sick leave until this point. You actually only HAVE to go on mat leave if you call in sick on or after week 36. See the government websites guidance here.

Nessalina · 15/10/2014 11:45

Some good information www.maternityaction.org.uk/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/sicknessduringpregnancymaternityleave.pdfhere as well

Nessalina · 15/10/2014 11:45

Link fail!
www.maternityaction.org.uk/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/sicknessduringpregnancymaternityleave.pdfhere

Nessalina · 15/10/2014 11:46

Oh FFS!
www.maternityaction.org.uk/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/sicknessduringpregnancymaternityleave.pdf

Nessalina · 15/10/2014 11:52

That last one works
Essentially they can't make you go on mat leave until 36 weeks. Even of you're signed off sick between now and then! You'd need to check your company policy for sickness review points, and policy re: meetings. I work for a big company and they do home visits at 6 weeks. Pregnancy related sickness is still sickness although it should be recorded differently on your HR record.

Original poster

Dinnerfor1 · 15/10/2014 11:53

Thank you so much, that is really helpful.

I am happy for them to come me, but getting to work would be tricky for me as it is a long drive on motorways and I'm off due to being sick all the time and fatigue, so I'm not sure how safe I would be on the roads!

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NancyJones · 15/10/2014 12:00

I missed 15wks with my first. I had HG and it was hideous. They did review it with me after 6wks. I teach and they were quite clear that as I was signed off then I wasn't insured to be teaching so shouldn't be coming in. I think there's something to say that it's still sickness but isn't added to other sickness or counted as poor attendance for reviews or references. Good luck.

Nessalina · 15/10/2014 12:01

Totally fair enough for you to say you can't go in then. That's why you're signed off! You definitely don't have to go in. I wouldn't TBH even if you could just about as it rather undermines your sickness...

excitedforbaba · 15/10/2014 12:10

I was off work with HG also for 3 months and had possibly 2 review meetings in that time to see if there was anything they could do to make it easier for me to return to work but my doctor said no way!

My second review a higher manager said given my sickness levels she wouldn't feel comfortable with me returning to work unto I was 100% just in case so we agreed to use my annual leave to take me up to week 29 of my pregnancy and then start maternity leave 2 weeks earlier than originally planned! ( I needed to use my AL before I went off anyway as I was going to be off for the end of the holiday year) maybe this is something you could consider if it doesn't look to be letting up.

But they can not use any pregnancy related sickness against you in attendance disciplinarys etc

Original poster

Dinnerfor1 · 15/10/2014 12:38

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I'm happy for the sickness to be recorded and have a review, I just don't want it to be used in any negative way.

I think I will call or email them and ask if they can come to me for the review. It was getting to work safely that was my main worry, so I'm glad I can ask them to come to me!

As I've been feeling so ill I'm planning to start my maternity leave at 29 weeks anyway. I just hope I stop being sick soon!

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Original poster

Dinnerfor1 · 15/10/2014 12:48

Another quick question. Did people bother taking a union rep with them to their attendance review? I can't decide if it is worth asking them to be there, but dh says I'd be silly not to. I just think having the Union there looks a bit over the top!

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AtrociousCircumstance · 15/10/2014 12:51

Definitely have your rep there.

Belt and braces!

NancyJones · 15/10/2014 12:54

I didn't but it never occurred to me as my ht was being do understanding about it. Even when she came round she put me at ease by saying it was just procedure and she could see how ill I was. I actually vomited whilst she was there. I guess it's up to you whatever makes you feel most comfortable. I vaguely remember them telling me I could have another colleague with me if I wanted so you could maybe ask them to bring a work mate you are friendly with. I didn't bother though. I didn't even get dressed!

SunbathingCat · 15/10/2014 12:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NapoleonsNose · 15/10/2014 12:57

At my work any absence over a certain percentage would trigger an attendance review but any mitigating circumstances, which pregnancy related illness is, would be taken out of the calculation and therefore bring it below the review level. You may find that this is what your employers do. But DO take a rep with you. It's not unknown for some managers to try and make policy up as they go along! I am a rep btw.

NancyJones · 15/10/2014 12:58

Oh and don't be bullied into taking may leave as early as 29wks. It won't have to kick in until 36wks due to sickness. If you're ill you're ill. You'll be kicking yourself the other side of the baby being born if you agree to use your mat leave being sick. You may even feel slightly better then. I felt much better after 26/27wks then sick again at 37wks! So dont confirm any dates yet.

Original poster

Dinnerfor1 · 15/10/2014 13:49

Thanks so much everyone. Really helpful replies.

I'm finding its making me quite anxious, because I'm normally hardly ever sick, and this is making me feel like I've been naughty, even though there is no way I could work at the moment.

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Pico2 · 15/10/2014 14:02

I agree with what NancyJones says. I was signed off sick at 29 weeks. If I had taken maternity leave from 29 weeks I would have lost a couple if months from the other end of my maternity leave and had to return to work when DD was 10 months old.

DanyStormborn · 15/10/2014 14:24

They may want the meeting to see if there is anything they can do to make going to work easier for you (different hours, working from home etc) but the comment about starting your maternity leave early worries me. Maternity leave can only start at your request from 29 weeks (unless the baby is premature and come earlier than that then it automatically starts the day after the birth) and can only start automatically due to sick leave from 36 weeks. I would take your union rep, that kind of protection in situations like this is why you pay your union fees.

WhyOWhyWouldYou · 15/10/2014 15:31

Take your union rep. If you're worried what they might think just introduce your rep saying "this is x, who is here because with my previously very good sickness record I don't really know how these things work, so thought I'd have them here as my union rep to make sure I understand how everything."

I also second not taking mat leave early just because you're I'll - you are perfectly entitled to use just sick leave up until baby is born (and you may find you get better for a while and are able to return to work for a little bit in later pregnancy) and you will want that extra time with baby.

WhyOWhyWouldYou · 15/10/2014 15:32

Sorry for typos

WhyOWhyWouldYou · 15/10/2014 15:33

entitled to use sick leave up until 4weeks before baby is born

excitedforbaba · 15/10/2014 16:49

dinner for 1 I also forgot to say the reason I used AL and then early mat leave was because I was only entitled to SSP during my illness I ended up earning below the threshold for Stat Mat Pay and lost 6 weeks of full company pay because of not earning enough during that period. I took holiday and then early mat leave as I couldn't survive much longer on SSP

Elletorrito · 15/10/2014 20:22

Hi dinner. I have used annual leave when I was sick too but for the same reason: I only get stat sick pay. You can wait until week 36 if you want to.

If you have better sick pay then consider not taking your annual leave. If you are sick then annual leave rolls over to the next year.

Ask for a copy of your work's sickness policy and also their pregnancy/maternity policy.

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