Meeting with Occupational Health about pregnancy related sickness

[Mils234]

I am 9.5 weeks pregnant and feel absolutely awful. I had HG in my last pregnancy but whilst this time round it's not as bad in terms of how much i'm vomiting I still feel completely dreadful and not really able to function.

I had a few days off early on in my pregnancy due to sickness and bleeding meaning a couple of trips to the EPU but otherwise I have remained in work but doing reduced duties. My manager seems understanding of this 'until 12 weeks' but last time I was sick almost all of my way through pregnancy.

I'm on antisickness medication. I'm also on progestrone that seems to wipe me out.

Just wondering if I should be asking for anything in particular from HR?

The options presented to me are come in or go off completely until i'm better as to not have multiple absences "that work against" me. The sickness policy however does say pregnancy absences will be recorded separately and not used towards disciplinaries so I don't understand why i've been told that.

Any advice welcome!

You are right, maternity absences should not count towards sickness scoring. Are you a member of a union?

Yes I am - I work for the NHS.

I'll stand firm on that if it's brought up!

The options presented to me are come in or go off completely until i'm better as to not have multiple absences "that work against" me. The sickness policy however does say pregnancy absences will be recorded separately and not used towards disciplinaries so I don't understand why i've been told that.

I'd give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they either forgot or didn't realise that, so were trying to help you based on the standard policy. Both of which are easily resolved in a non-confrontational way.

Depends if they're trying to be helpful or you think they're trying to use it against you?
If you can get signed off sick until 12 weeks on full pay I would and assess how you feel then.
I felt dreadful in my first pregnancy too but battled on, looking back I wish I had just taken some time off to rest!

I had HG with all my pregnancies. Firstly, get signed off so you’re protected. Pregnancy sickness cannot be used against you. It is recorded separately but if like my place, OH stepped in because of the amount of sporadic days off I was having. I think it triggers something in the HR system that (name) is having a lot of time off, what can we do as an organisation to support her? I bet as soon as you say I’m pregnant, OH will just write “pregnant”. There is nothing they can do. Maybe a risk assessment but it’s not because you’re taking the pi$$ etc. If there wasn’t a valid reason for the absences, then I think HR step in and can put you on some sort of plan to stop being off sick or disciplinary action will be taken. Again, you’re pregnant. You’re protected by law :)

not have multiple absences "that work against" me.

Pregnancy related illness cannot work against you. That would be illegal

Go off until you’re able to function. I’m 12w and have been signed off for several weeks due to constant nausea and sickness. I am hoping to return next week as I’m slowly getting better. Get signed off and go back when you can. You don’t need added stress and pressure.

@dreamfield Yes, think i'll start by reminding them of the policy and see what they say. It was my manager that's presented me with those options not HR.

The problem I had in my last pregnancy wasn't HR but my manager not wanting to implement their recommendations and trying to trigger my maternity leave at around 33 weeks which I pushed back on but the whole thing was stressful.

@agncndmkd128494 I'm not sure tbh my manager said one thing to me but has written another on the HR form... I'm sure my GP would sign me off no problem though and I'm not against that option.

Thanks @Bayleaftree63 I asked for the referral to OH rather because I wanted to know what they'd recommend. I know I'm protected by law but as we haven't told anybody i've had nobody to speak with about it and I was starting to doubt myself!

Thanks everyone for the reassurance! If I don't find them and my manager supportive I will look to go off until I can function better. My job isn't really one you can do from a distance/without being hands on and available and i'm finding it really stressful.