Unsure about absence during pregnancy

[Cheebz89]

Hello,

I'm 9 weeks pregnant and have up days and down days. Down days include sickness and fatigue all day and honestly even the inability to get dressed. I work full time as a teacher in a Scottish school and I am unsure how the absence policy works. I've read online that absence due to pregnancy shouldn't be counted alongside usual absences but I am unsure as to whether that's an English thing or whether that's in Scotland too. I had to take today off and my line manager has said it will go down as a regular absence which I was surprised by. Any Scottish teachers out there who can fill me in? Thanks!

It’s an Equality Act thing. Whole of U.K.

I might be wrong, but if it's pregnancy related then I don't think they can mark as regular absense.

They have to know you are pregnant though as far as I am aware. Have you told your manager/head teacher?

Headteacher and pt know but I haven't had an appointment yet as I'm still early so I haven't been able to hand in a due date letter or anything official. The schools been really supportive, I just want to make sure I'm covering my back! I also don't want to feel I need to push myself to go in when I feel so terrible. Thank you to those who've replied!

They have to mark down as pregnancy related and it doesn't count/add up on your sickness record.

Sorry I couldn't work out if either of those people who you mention knowing are your line manager. I often find you feel the most rough in those weeks before you have the scan so it is hard.

I think illness due to pregnancy is different however when you get to a certain amount of weeks I was under the impression they could make you take maternity leave early if you were off constantly however you are nowhere near there yet.

I’m in England but I think the rules are the same, essentially; absence during pregnancy for pregnancy-related reasons counts as regular sickness absence in terms of contractual sick pay (it gets more complicated once you’re closer to your due date) BUT the Equality Act and maternity protection means it can’t be used against you in the context of any formal absence proceedings and so has to be recorded separately.

So, you can exhaust your entitlement to sick pay for pregnancy related reasons but you can’t be placed on disciplinary for it. Hopefully that makes sense!

@OtiMama

Sorry I couldn't work out if either of those people who you mention knowing are your line manager. I often find you feel the most rough in those weeks before you have the scan so it is hard.

I think illness due to pregnancy is different however when you get to a certain amount of weeks I was under the impression they could make you take maternity leave early if you were off constantly however you are nowhere near there yet.

From 36 weeks, and only if the illness is pregnancy related.