Telling my boss I’m pregnant after being on sick

[Lauraelizabeth26]

Hia

I’m currently off work on sick until later this month with a neurological issue, and found out a few weeks ago I’m pregnant.

The type of job I have is very physically demanding and once I return to work I’m going to have to inform my boss (even though I’ll only be 8 weeks then) so that I’m not expected to lift heavy goods. However my boss is a very difficult person at the best of times, and I know when a colleague told him she was pregnant last year he expected her to continue with normal duties even though it would be dangerous for the baby, so my question is because I got pregnant whilst on the sick can he refuse to allow me to return to work or will it mess up my maternity pay? As I know he will not be happy and will be extremely difficult about this and I’m worried because he’ll be annoyed he’ll try to do something to spite me to try and force me to quit as I’ve seen him do it to others who have annoyed him in some way.

Thanks in advance.

No but give maternity action a ring for proper advice so you can quote exactly your rights when he's difficult.

How upsetting for you that you don't have a supportive manager. He cannot refuse your return to work because you are pregnant. He would be in biiiiig trouble if he did go down this route!
I second @ClareB83 and think you need to seek a little bit of advice from the people who know their stuff!!

Just remember, pregnancy is a beautiful thing and funnily enough, someone had to give birth to your muppet of a boss all those years ago!! People forget this sometimes. He sounds like a fool...

How long have you been there? You have very few rights of less than 2 years (and it’s not hard to dismiss for a non-pregnancy reason even if you have declared it). I’d be wary of declaring so early. Any chance occ health could suggest stopping the heavy lifting for the neurological issue rather than the pregnancy?

Your mat pay (SMP) assuming you’re entitled will be calculated from your wages between around weeks 17-25 (depending on when you get paid) so your current sick leave won’t affect it.

@TittyGolightly I’ve been there almost eleven years, and my sickness record has always been very good up until this issue began at the beginning of the year, so I opted to take 6 weeks off rather than come back and then go off again and come back and go off again. I’ve spoken to hr about my ongoing illness and they’ve been very supportive so hopefully that will keep my boss in line.

Ideally I would like to wait until I’m 12 weeks but I work in a supermarket and run a frozen section which means I work ima. Giant freezer up to -26 conditions carrying heavy boxes across an icy floor and the putting the heavy stock out on the shop floor. Im not gonna be able to go in the cold room once I return so I’m going to have to tell him.

Thank you for all your answers and lovely words.

Could I suggested that if you haven’t already, you join a union. I have been through something similar. Union representation is essential. Please also get legal advice as the other poster suggest. Note down or record any conversations with your boss or take someone else in with you. Good luck!

Not my area of expertise at all but I would also advise speaking to maternity action, HR and possibly joining a union before speaking to your boss. As advised, having a witness to conversations or noting stuff down and putting anything official in an email so there's a paper trail would be wise.

He cannot/should not but doesn't necessarily mean he won't.

Are you in a union? If so speak to them. There may not be a point joining now if you aren't already in as most require you to be a member for 6 months before you can get help (bit like an issurance - you don't buy a cover after the incident).
Is it a big supermarket chain? if so, there will be HR.

Not all unions require to wait 6 months and that's the boss hasn't been a dick on this issue yet it's worth joining!

My union doesn't have a six month rule.

No Union I'm familiar with has the six month rule- they do say you can't be represented regarding an issue that began before your membership, but in reality no rep I've known would turn away a member in OP's position.

Join your Union op, they're fantastic in situations like this.

I got caught out by this rule as well but not sure if it was 6 months or 3 or even one but I could not get representation as I wasn't a member when the incident happened. But still it is always worth joining - even now.

Could you join usdaw today?
I paid six quid a month or something and was covered right away

Thank you so much for all your answers.

I’m definitely going to look into joining a union and think I’ll give HR a quick ring before I speak to my boss.

Thanks again

Just remember that a companies HR departments are unfortunately not there for there staff, they are there to protect the company. Sorry, I sound so hard bitten but I got burnt at work this way. Union first! Know your rights. X

As a HR professional, that isn’t strictly true. Yes, protecting the organisation is key, but part of that is ensuring that valued staff are treated properly.

@tittygolightly I wish you had been my HR manager then. Unfortunately my experience at my place of work, along with many of my poor colleagues, had been employers covering and absolving themselves. I found it frightening after giving 11 years to this organisation. My crime was to get pregnant I guess.