Sick leave after Maternity Leave

[NatalieC]

Hello

I will try and keep this as brief as possible. I am on maternity leave at the moment and was going to go back to work on 1st September as my SMP runs out this month. My post has been deleted and this takes effect on 1st October. They have said that I have to return to work but I was hoping they would put me on gardening leave. I don't want to lose a months pay but I also don't and can't find childcare for one month (I have 3 children). Can I go sick on my first day or will they make me continue as maternity leave? I have been depressed and stressed this year for various reasons so can't see it being a problem being signed off by the doctor.

Many thanks in advance.

Natalie

It's things like this that give working mothers a bad name. If you are well enough to go to work you should go to work, or resign.

So you would feel well enough to go back to your own role long term but not on a temporary basis . Surely you knew you'd need childcare even before your role was axed so should have had something in the pipeline and started to look around. A month's sick will hardly look good on your applciations. If you don't/can't arrange to return perhaps you are best reaching an amicable arrangement to end your contract on September 1st although you've probably left it too late to just resign.

Thank you for your input ilovemountains! I have always worked full time and even returned to work when DD2 was 4 months old when I got a promotion. I was informed of my post deletion 2 months ago verbally but received my redundancy letter this morning. I did have a childminder lined up for my return (and had this organised when I went on maternity leave) but cancelled her when I was informed that my job was to be deleted. She no longer has any vacancies. I should not have to resign and lose redundancy compensation and pay because I have been made redundant. I love my job and am gutted that I will no longer employed and have always thought it preferable to being a working mum rather than a SAHM so please don't say I am giving working mothers a bad name. I also earn more than my husband so will be facing some financial hardship. There are no similar jobs due to the nature of my job (and I have been looking). Going off sick is my only way of securing some pay for a month so I can pay for school dinners, school donations, shoes, food, nappies etc, etc. I came on here to simply ask if I there was a certain time that I had to return to work not to be slated for this decision. So a massive thank you for making me really feel like s*!

but basically if you don't go back you could forfeit your rights to remuneration anyway unless you come to an agreement. Ring them up and discuss your options.

I'm not sure that you would be able to get a sick note from your GP- they are now called 'fit notes' and you are fit to work. You are asking someone to lie if they sign you off.
In answer to the question, you can go straight onto sick leave after being on maternity leave- this is what sometimes happens to women who still have postnatal depression and are not fit to do their jobs.
Do you not have any annual leave you could take or your DH could use to cover the children- or any friends/family to help out for the month?

Sorry you've lost your job, especially at the end of maternity leave.

Why don't you call / meet with your employer and discuss. Have they actually got any work for you to do in the month you would work? If not, they may be willing to give you some unpaid leave or take the month's salary off your redundancy package.

Think it would be good to avoid your employment ending on a month's sickness, not going to look good when you are looking for another job.

Hope it work out.

But why did you cancel your chldminder before you had formal notice of your last day? You are now in a position with no childcare but are still contracted to work. So you are now going to attempt to get signed off, to force the employer or taxpayers to pay for what was essentially your mistake. Why should they have to fork out for what is your childcare issue?

How much maternity leave have you taken? I am on sick leave now and should have gone back immediately after my 12 months maternity, GP didn't hesitate to sign my medical certificate (PTSD, after stillborn twin). The only thing is, if you haven't taken all of the maternity leave available to you, they might have a case for you to extend your maternity, but I'm not sure. I'd give your union, ACAS or CAB a call.

And sorry for those spiteful posts above, I hope you're getting more support than this elsewhere.

But the original post by NatalieC didn't say she was ill, just that she didn't have childcare. And although it is dreadful to lose your job, I believe claiming sick leave when you are not ill is morally wrong. Or perhaps I am the only one on these boards who thinks that!

[And loopyloops I am very sorry for your loss.]

thanks