Pregnancy related illness and time off work

[Laurenelle99]

Hey fellow mom's,

Just a bit of advise needed. I have always been a sicky person and found out I was pregnant the day I started my new job vowing I would have no time off! Clearly finding out I was pregnant put a spin on that!

I have had time off for a bleed, for hyperemisis, for dehydration and for severe kidney infections and I am now being told I could have triggered a disciplinary stage...

What can I do about this as I know I will need to go off again due to illness. I don't want to lose this job but I'm sure I wouldn't have had the time off if I wasn't pregnant.

I also spoke to occupation health who advised my work to cut my house to 8-4 instead of 9-7 but it wasn't done.

Any advice ladies???

Are you in the UK? Have you spoken to ACAS? Union Rep?

I have also had a lot of time off due to pregnancy but my employers seem a bit more understanding!

If I was you, I'd probably make an appointment with the GP and ask them to write you a note just stating that all time off was for pregnancy related illness and then I don't think you can be touched?

Are you in your probationary period? X

Hey @Laurenelle99 definitely give ACAS a call. If you're in England/Wales your employer isn't allowed to record pregnancy related illness as normal illness. They're certainly not allowed to discipline you/sack you for it. You might need to provide evidence that the illness is pregnancy related if you haven't already done so - might be worth speaking to your midwife/go about that.

This website is also useful - www.maternityaction.org.uk/advice-2/mums-dads-scenarios/pregnant/sickness-during-pregnancy-and-maternity-leave/

Provided you’re in the UK, they’re not allowed to include pregnancy related sickness when considering whether you’ve had too much time off, this applies regardless of how long you’ve worked for them. If they don’t know you’re pregnant, I think you will have to tell them, as the protections only kick in once they know. If they do know, is there a HR department you can talk to? I’d be tempted to just say something like “as my absences have been related to pregnancy, I’m sure you’re aware that these cannot be included or considered in any disciplinary procedures related to absence.” If they still continue with the discipline, contact ACAS.