Sick pay - please help

[RockChick1984]

Hi, I really hope someone can advise me, I'm going out of my mind worrying. Short background to my issue - I'm 25 weeks pregnant, and suffering with antenatal depression. Have never had any kind of mental issues before, and always had a very good sick record at work. I work for a major bank, and due to start maternity leave 2 weeks before I'm due. Am also taking my 5 weeks annual leave at the start of my maternity, so am due to finish work 28th jan. I called my hr dept to check if I was eligible for sick pay up until I'm due to finish (would like to go back but tried, lasted a week and a half where every night I was in hysterics and every morning was physically sick about going into work) and the hr bloke told me he couldn't tell me my exact allowance for sick pay as it depends on length of service, but I should be fine. Apparently my line manager had to call to find out exactly what I qualified for. Been at the company 3 and a half years. Have now had a letter from my manager saying my sick pay will be stopping on 9th dec. Company sick pay (according to letter) is 12 weeks. I thought if that ran out they would have to pay me SSP but according to the letter I won't get anything. Can anyone explain this to me, I thought SSP is payable for 26 weeks? Also, while I've been off I had 3 weeks holiday that I should have taken. Our hols run jan-dec, so obviously no opportunity for me to take them, I asked my manager can I use these to see me to the end of the yr but she said no as no scope on holiday chart, and we are only entitled usually to carry 1 week over. Does this mean I will lose the other 2 weeks, even though it's just unfortunate that I'm ill at the end of the year? If this was early on in the year they would let me just rearrange them. Sorry for going on, but I'm scared of being left with no money, mortgage to pay and baby on the way! Xxx

Here all about qualifying for SSP]]. I imagine you would qualify from what you say so should get it. Can you check with someone in HR or payroll in case your manager is writing to you without having involved them?

I don't understand about 'no scope on the holiday chart'. Presumably you are not going to be in work anyway, so it's not as if it will be a case of too many people off at the same time - you won't be there anyway if I've understood it right, so holiday charts are irrelevant, surely?

I think a chat with someone in HR about both of these issues is probably your next step. Sometimes managers go 'off piste' a bit.

Thankyou, I'll give them a call first thing tomorrow. Hopefully can get it sorted one way or the other! Thankyou for your help xx

Does your doctor advise not returning to work for the rest of your pregnancy?

If you are sick most employeres would not allow you to take holiday leave instead.

Have you considered the possibility of starting your maternity leave earlier to keep your good attendance record.

Dr has said he's more than happy to sign me off until my maternity leave, however I had been hopin to try and go back to work again, it has fallen (without me realising) that my current sick note runs out the same time as my company sick pay. I had considered starting my maternity early but as I am taking my annual holiday allowance at the start, which obviously I can't take til jan, I would be starting my maternity far 2 early, so would only have a few months with my baby before going back to work. I think my attendance record has fallen to pieces anyway over the last few months because of this, so not too concerned about that aspect! Xxx