Will sick note trigger my mat leave early?

[bells2810]

I’m due to finish work on the 27th January but have been really struggling with pelvic girdle pain, I spoke to my GP yesterday and she said she would sign me off work as sick up until my last day of work if I wanted, and has written me the sick note. I’m just worried as I don’t qualify for SMP from my employer, I am having to claim maternity allowance but am still waiting to hear back from them.

If I hand in a sick note now, will my employer start my maternity leave or will it still count as sickness absence?

It depends on when your due date is. I think it's at 36 weeks that it will trigger mat leave.

Thanks, I will be 35 weeks when I plan on finishing work so just one week earlier!

In my work sickness triggers mat leave in the last two months of pregnancy! That's for full pay maternity allowance from them though, may be different if it's statutory

From Maternity Action OP:

“It is normally up to you to decide when you wish to start your maternity leave. However, if you are off sick with a pregnancy-related illness in the last four weeks before your expected week of childbirth, your employer can start your maternity leave automatically.”

Look through your mat leave contracts - usually it says in there. Mine said if you were off sick with anything pregnancy-related in the time leading up to your due date, it would trigger early mat leave.

Or you could email HR?