Am I over reacting?

[Sammytoby]

So I’m currently 8weeks2 days pregnant and have been really struggling with sickness, I work a physical job as a massage therapist at a spa and have had to call in sick twice and leave early once due to me suffering. I had a return to work meeting yesterday in which my team leader told me that I need to watch my sickness and that I still have a long way to go and made me feel really guilty and as though I would be in trouble if I continue to have sickness. I just want to know if I’m over reacting by being annoyed/ upset about what she said to me and if it is true that I do need to watch how much sickness I take?

I think 3 episodes of sickness in 8 weeks is quite a lot but if you’re not well, then you’re not well!

Do they know you’re pregnant?

https://www.acas.org.uk/managing-your-employees-maternity-leave-and-pay/if-theyre-ill-or-having-a-difficult-pregnancy

Yes they know I’m pregnant

Do they know about the pregnancy? Presumably the sickness has all been in a short space of time given that you are only 8 weeks so will have only known yourself for 4weeks max.

Yes they know I’m pregnant I told them early on due to me needing to know what products I can and can’t use aswell as we do lots of training so I needed a valid reason as to why I can’t be used as a model for certain things. In total I’ve had 2.5 days off as the sickness has just hit me massively and with it being a physical job with most the day being in a room with no ventilation and on my feet that when I have gone in I feel I’m not giving clients a good treatment and even having to leave the room due to nausea and sickness

“Watch your sickness”??
What bloody bollocks is this?!?!
If you are sick then you can’t work!
They can’t discriminate against you, uou are pregnant.
Can you contact HR for advise?
If not then I’d contact ACAS.
Congratulations on your pregnancy!

Ask your gp for xonvea sickness tablets. They're a relatively new tablet, weren't available for first and second pregnancy but I'm currently taking them in my 3rd pregnancy and total game changer.
Your work legally can't punish you for sickness in pregnancy. You can't help it!

HR manager here, no a couple of days off for sickness during (sorry) peak morning sickness time is not unreasonable, your employer is being unfair. The first trimester is really hard.
Given the nature of your job, with lots of smells and being on your feet it seems very likely to me that sickness would have genuinely been an issue for you.
If you can't perform your usual duties then they can adjust your role or you continue to take time off when it gets too much. As others have said they can't discriminate so context HR/ACAS for support if you get further comments like this.
Likelyhood is that the sickness will improve in a few weeks, hang on in there.

Your employer is not allowed to discipline you for pregnancy related sickness. You're quite within your rights to go the GP for some meds and ask to be signed off for a couple of weeks with pregnancy related sickness as the reason. If your employer tries to tell you you're not allowed the absence or it's going on your record they are breaking the law and you should contact HR. Honestly, hearing stuff like this makes me seethe. Your team leader doesn't know what they're talking about and sound like a insert rude word here. Look after yourself and don't feel even a tiny bit guilty if you need time off. The first trimester is brutal.xxx

Get anti sickness meds from your GP and get singed off sick x