Maternity leave confused

[Quiegal]

So I sent the forms to HR this week telling them I had 4 weeks remaining holidays. I did put 20 January but yesterday just couldn't go in.

With my Fibromyalgia and pregnancy and I work in retail I doubt I will last until 20 January. I will try and hang on but was thinking middle of December but don't think they allow it because of Christmas period.

This why I was hoping to use my 4 weeks remaining holidays beginning of January. I tried to book these holidays but didn't allow me too.

I need to speak to other store manager as covering our one while we get new managers in. This why I have not idea old manager knew what to do. He was the one who advised me to contact HR but now stuck.

With me struggling I do feel they will get me to go on maternity sooner I am sure they did that to another staff member before.

I want to stick it out but feel I be pressuring myself too much. I also need extra money too. Been having a lot of time off sick already. It's rubbish money that I get already for the part time hours I get. Feel stuck what to do.

I am just wondering what to do?

They can't start your leave earlier unless you're off with a pregnancy related illness in the last 4 weeks of pregnancy. See what they say about the holidays

Did you miss part of your post? I don't understand the scenario. Are you asking when to start maternity leave?

A lot of places won't let you book 4 weeks off at once. And retail don't usually authorise any holidays during the Christmas period. Can you book 2 weeks at the start of mat leave and 2 at the end instead and see if they'll approve those?

If not contact Pregnant Then Screwed and see what they say.

BTW your post made perfect sense.

As someone else said, they can only start your maternity leave early if you're off sick with a pregnancy related illness within the 4 weeks before estimated due date. Or if you have baby early.
With my work, we had to take all remaining annual leave for the year either before or straight after maternity leave.
It's your choice when you go on mat leave so you could decide to go early if needed. Beyond that, it's just normal management of it all. If you're not well enough to work then you need to speak to HR about solutions which will likely include either sick leave or annual leave.
If you can get a meeting with HR then it'd be good to have it all set out and booked on. If not, an email may be better as you've then got a paper trail?

I think I will try to stick it out.

I thought that in retail this wouldn't be allowed too.

But just have to see how I go until Jan 20.

Thanks for replying

It's because I have only just gone back after being off sick. Probably about weeks ago I returned to work.

Then yesterday after not sleeping having pain in my legs lower back and was a bit a worried about baby I took the day off.

So feel like I will struggle through Christmas period. I doubt I will be able to do more than 3 days or longer days. Although a member of our team said that I need to work Christmas eve but up until 5.

Normally I am giving morning shifts because of my fibromyalgia. So I want to also see if I can work a morning as long I work Christmas eve don't see why I need to stay until 5.

I probably will try stick it out if I can need to get a fit note from until maternity leave.

I think also because I am normally the main till person and don't want to struggle as it will be busy. I didn't like it when I wasn't pregnant because it's too much. I just hope they have all 3 tills on and the second person can't leave me.

We don't have a lot of permanent staff as a lot have left it be only 3 permanent staff including me. And rest will be temps just don't want too much pressure.

I do feel if they see me struggling think I be told to go on maternity early.

I've recently gone on mat leave and work in retail.

My manager allowed me to take 4 weeks of my annual leave before my mat leave started.
I started my mat leave 1 week before my due date (actually gave birth the day after my mat leave started coincidentally)

My understanding is annual leave is managers discretion in retail, including over the holidays.

Is there reduced duties you could do?
Are you able to sit down behind a till?

I meant only went back 3 weeks ago

You can only be forced to go on mat leave if you go off sick for pregnancy related illness in the 4 weeks before due date.

Have you had risk assessments?
Could be worth asking to have another

@jollybynamejollybynature

Not there really isn't much space behind the till area. I need to get breaks because of my fibromyalgia anyway.
But I have to kind of say I need a break. Normally it's like 5 mins. I don't work many hours and it's definitely a struggle. Before I was pregnant planned on leaving retail because it was too much for me even the little hours I do.

I am trying to stick it out but can't see me reaching 20 January with have time of sick. The pain in my legs are quite bad and worse carrying extra weight.

There's not much GP can give other than paracetamol. Physio told me to get a lot of stuff to help.
I am doing everything thing but also the lack of sleep is getting to me.
Going in to work in a busy store with nightmare customers not sure I be able to cope.

I spend most of my off days catching up on sleep. When I go time does go quickly but after absolutely shattered legs hurt. I just worried I won't cope.

If you aren't planning on going back, why not put your start of Mat Leave date as 22/23 December?

They'll roll forward any unused annual leave for use at the end of the one year mat leave, then if you resigned, oay you unspent holiday.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

That's still something I am thinking about.

I might need to try go back for awhile then change jobs later.

But seeing if they can give me Saturday position.

It depends on other things too now.