Sick note.. how easy it it?

[Sho2207]

Hey, so basically I'm 31 weeks pregnant and have been having a really rough time. I'm feeling more and more sick each day, my back and hips are now starting to play up, I'm having to have more scans and tests done due to findings, and feeling mentally drained with being worried sick about covid at work (to the point of crying everyday when I have work).

I work in a supermarket and as much as 'I don't need to shield' I'm getting more complications in pregnancy which could cause preterm labour so I'm worrying about that as well as catching covid. I've spoken to my manager and he's tried to get me suspended on full pay but HR wouldn't let me. My manager said the best option would be to get signed off sick from the GP.

I've heard a lot of pregnant friends say they've been signed off easily but I'm worrying I don't have a reasonable enough excuse. My mat leave starts at 35 weeks so I'll only need to be signed off for 4 weeks.
Do my reasons sound like a good enough excuse?

I'm so sorry op ur really not having any luck. You can go off for i think 7 days before you need a sick note so could maybe still go off while u try and sort it out. I would try keep tryin ur GP but don't says it's coz of covid. I would try maybe for on the physical side that u don't feel fit to work and it's effecting ur mental health x

Seal to your midwife and see if she can help with a sick note?

@Sho2207 sorry to hear they aren't being helpful. Mine didnt do a huge amount until this last lockdown but then that changed and everyone was sent home. Poor that Sainsbury's aren't doing the same for their staff.

Get a sick note for stress & anxiety

@boymum88
Yeah I'm gonna take the rest of the week off, gonna be persistent with the doctors and ask for a different GP, definitely won't be mentioning covid because that's clearly the reason I haven't been signed off which is ridiculous considering it isn't even affecting the GP x

@Oneandabean
I spoke to her about it last week and she said she couldn't sign me off, I'm gonna email her and just see if there's anything she can do, even if it's a letter to my workplace/doctors.

@emmafou1807
It's ridiculous isn't it!
I'm angry with the doctors but I'm also so angry with my company.

@chickensoup23
Will try that the next time I speak to them

I work in retail and was signed off for stress 28-31 weeks . I did go back and work until 38 weeks but was overwhelmed with work load and being pregnant etc. I found the doctors very understanding and happy to help and this was pre- covid so I'm sure you won't have a problem. It's very short lived and the most important thing is you get to the end of the pregnancy safely without too much stress so that you and baby are as safe as possible x

Midwives can't issue sick notes. And we can't do anything about your working conditions as much as we'd like to. Ask to speak to a different GP.

We cannot write letters to workplaces (as much as we'd like to sometimes). It's down to your individual workplace to risk assess and otherwise it's GP.

@chickensoup23
I'm just so confused with how she refused to sign me off when I was telling her work is affecting my mental health and that I cry everyday..
I was basically saying I'm feeling depressed and have anxiety but she just didn't care. Maybe it was because I added the covid bit that she just assumed it all stemmed down to that 🤷🏻‍♀️
I feel like I'm doing more harm than good by stressing and crying every time I have work x