Sick leave....advice!

[sorintinkerbell]

I am 17 weeks and suffering from sciatica. I work for the NHS. I had one day sickness at the start when only management knew I was pregnant when's morning sickness wouldn't let up and I have given in trying to make my way in with this back pain. I have just had a phone call from our sickness team stating another period of absence would result in me being referred to a HR review. In my history in the nhs I've had maybe two periods of absence and now I'm worried they will put my job/mat pay at risk if I'm off sick again during my pregnancy.

It is worth checking policy, but I am pretty sure that the law is that pregnancy related illness cannot be counted towards any sort of absence management procedures; but having never worked for the NHS not sure if they have an exemption (would hope they don't and not sure they would legally be able to). For the ones work weren't aware of the pregnancy not sure where you stand with those, and the illness needs to be directly attributable to pregnancy to be discounted. Do you have an occupational health department you can speak to? Hopefully you will remain well for the rest of your pregnancy for your sake, but you definitely should not be having to stress about it.

Any pregnancy related sickness can't be held against you for any form of disciplinary action as its discriminating, have they got it recorded as pregnancy related problems? I have had a few problems this pregnancy and always gave my reason as pregnancy related problems to make sure it wasn't held against me I also work for NHS.
Xx

agree with other comments. I don't know but perhaps a referral to HR might simply mean they would like to support you and help manage your time at work whilst experiencing M/S? Maybe working together to create a plan to reduce your activity/responsibilities.

It’s likely just a standard Bradford scale monitoring system. Three separate incidences of sickness can trigger a review. I wouldn’t be concerned, especially as it’s pregnancy related.

Make sure any sick notes you have say pregnancy related on them. Remember it is also HR’s job to support you.

I work for the nhs- I’ve been off about 5 times with pregnancy related illness and they can’t be counted against you on your sickness record. Like others have said, make sure you state it’s pregnancy related when you call in sick and then don’t worry about it x

I had some pregnancy sickness absence before many people at work knew, and once they did I asked if they could amend the reason to pregnancy related which they were quite happy to do (from dates it would be obvious). Education not NHS though.

I would make sure that the ‘sickness team’ know that this episode and the last one are pregnancy related - they may only receive notification that you are off for the 2nd time in xx months and don’t get any additional information stating what is actually wrong or that it’s pregnancy related.

Would it not just be following the sickness policy though.
Every company I have worked for where people are sick for whatever reason there is a proper return to work interview to check that they are well enough to work/ what adjustments are needed. If it is pregnancy related it is disregarded for the purposes of pay rises etc or escalation.

Just because it can't be counted against you in terms of points/disciplinary, it doesn't mean that they can't do a review with you. They will need to understand what is wrong and how they can help when you are at work.

Ffs I hate it when managers threaten people with HR we aren't monsters (sorry bugbear of mine).

Likely procedural is the sciatica pregnancy related? If so make sure it's recorded as such. Have you completed s maternity risk assessment? Make sure it is highlighted there and consider the risks associated with it in your job.

I have had it for years but strangely not when pg and it's horrid

They can't count pregnancy related sickness against you but once you get to (I think 29 weeks) maternity leave can be triggered if you need extended time off and if you take pregnancy related sick leave from 36 weeks maternity leave automatically starts.