Advice please

[abbs1]

My doctor has signed me off work for 2 weeks due to severe morning sickness. It's literally 24/7 nausea and cant hold much food down through vomiting as well. My boss has been really horrible to me in response to it basically saying like resign or we will make your life hell till you resign. I feel totally stressed out my mind now. No kindness or nothing. I feel like I've committed a crime!
Any advice on what to do?

Do you have a HR department?

Have you been told these awful things verbally or in writing by your manager?

Sorry your e so poorly and that you have a horrible person for a manager. Congrats on your pregnancy though! Xxxx

What were your bosses actual words?
Whatever you do, don't resign until you're entitled to SMP.

Is it a small business? Do you have a good relationship with bosses boss?

There is no HR department it's a really small company and I'm the only one employed the others are part time and self employed and my managers are the directors so there's no one else to speak to. They have written an email to me so I have it in writing. I was in tears over it as it was so heartless and basically blaming me for having a baby esp after I had a miscarriage and they know that as I was off for a day because of it. Im at a total loss on what to do.

If you have it in writing I would get in touch with acas and Pregnant then Screwed for some advice. Dont do anything without that advice and do not attempt to go back to work if you are still signed off. They're arseholes for the way they're treating you and they are idiots for putting it in writing.

This is absolutely not ok. A medical professional has deemed you not fit to work.

Do not respond to any emails , and do not speak to them verbally. They will try and make you quit, but you have to stick to your guns on this one.

Your body is going through so many changes right now, and hormones are going to heighten any emotion you are feeling. Try and focus on you and your little bean this weekend and get on the phone to ACAS first thing Monday morning.

I am so sorry to hear you are going through something as terrible as this.

Hi Katmarie I will do that. I'm signed off for 2 weeks so I have some time to try to sort it. I'm trying not to stress as I'm worried I will miscarry again but I'm not just gonna resign without a fight as its bang out of order what has been said and will massively impact me as well with loss of earnings etc. I didnt realise people can be so cold and heartless!

@snowflake9 I will do that. I have my first midwife appointment tomorrow and will try my best to relax and then speak with ACAS Monday as I feel so scared to step foot back through the door to work now. They've basically said they are looking for someone to "cover me" but they mean to replace me really hoping I will resign and saying they expect I will continue to take time off sick and cause more problems for them when they dont even know this! I've only had time off when I had a miscarriage and then now for morning sickness and now it's like I've messed their whole world up by being signed off my a medical professional who has deemed me unfit to work! It's crazy!

They are clueless.

I had so much time off this pregnancy (currently 38+5) and I work for a small company with no HR and I know they were annoyed about it but they certainly didn't make me feel bad for it.

Any sickness you have off due to pregnancy can not be held against you in any form of disciplinary either.

They don't sound like the nicest company to work for, but you will have to stick it out if you are entitled to SMP. (I assume they don't have a wacking great package to offer you??)

Speak to a lawyer. I had this and had to get illegal letters sent as they are breaking the law.
First half an hour are normally free, send them the email and let them know everything.

@snowflake9 I can still get maternity allowance if I do resign but will seek legal advise first. I dont know if I could deal with a tribunal as I'm not sure I could deal with the stress of it.

@em39ma I will speak with ACAS and see what they say. Everything was fine until they found out I am pregnant and it's like it's the worst thing that could have ever happened and everything is now all my fault.

Yep. I was a nanny and they were talk about upping my hours.
I fortunately had insurance and there illegal team sorted it.
I was too unwell at the time, but ended up with a bit of a pay off.

Hi - they are absolutely in the wrong here and you have a lot of rights in place that protect you and your baby.

Would really recommend speaking to either ACAS or Pregnant Then Screwed - they both are free and can give you great advice on what to do if needed. You’ve declared the pregnancy to your employer, have been signed off with a pregnancy related illness and you’re therefore protected from any shittery they might try to pull. Try as much as possible to relax and don’t let the stress get to you.

If they fire you or penalise you in any way it very likely could be maternity discrimination which is covered by a whole range of laws, so you’d very easily be able to take action against them.

@afternoontwee I will try my best to relax. I feel so angry right now about it as the reason I told them was because I was struggling with the sickness and wanted to make them aware so they could sort something if they needed to but instead it's all come back on me and now apparently it's my fault I've inconvenienced them. It's like I'm a robot or something. I will try my best not to stress over it and get some advice on how to move forward.

Record Al confos if your not talking by text or email. If the make your life hell you once you do go back to work you need to write a log off what they are doing times and dates .. talk to the cab ( citizen advice ) see what they say