'Informal' HR Meeting for hitting trigger point when off with pregnancy related sickness

[PinkPanther27]

Hello all - I have received a letter asking me to attend an "informal" meeting with HR as I have apparently hit a trigger point for sickness - have been off weveral weeks with pregnancy related sickness. It says its informal but sounds v formal and the agenda notes mention trigger points, referral to HR and that I am entitled to bring a union rep.
I didnt think they were allowed to do this? What do you think??

How far along are you? You can be made to start maternity leave early if it is likely that you'll be off until when you were going to start maternity leave previously. That's what the trigger point item refers to.

*several (typo)

Hi billgranger, I am 31 weeks + 4 and start my maternity leave in 4 weeks - when I'll be 36 weeks. The letter sounds like they are referriung to the number of days I have had off sick?

well if its pregnacy releated the can't touch you

AFAIK, they cannot make you start your ML until 36 weeks. Hope someone comes along to confirm or deny.

Are you in a union?

What field do you work in?

They're not allowed to discipline you for pregnancy-related sickness absence but you don't say anything indicating they are likely to do that.

An informal meeting with HR isn't a disciplinary and although presumably the internal procedure means you can bring a rep to an absence meeting, that doesn't mean they will be disciplining you either.

if they have a trigger system then the amount of absence you've had off will trigger a meeting about it, but as the absence is pregnancy-related, there should be no formal warnings or anything similar resulting from that.

It should be about how they can put in strategies or mechanisms to support your attendance. That may be physical changes,working part time, working from home or doing different duties.

Hi all, I dont wanna say which field I work in incase they identify me but I work for 2 large national organisations and it is my second (part time job) that have called the meeting. My main job have already said that my pregnancy related illness doesnt count but on the other hand havent made any adjustments to my work etc, hence one of the reasons why I'm off sick. The notes accompanying the letter from my second employer say that targets for absence must be set ? for example ? only one occurrence of absence permitted in the next three months and warn me that if targets are not met then further action will be taken under their Sickness Management Policy. I've only got another 2 weeks prior to my maternity leave after the date of the meeting as well and as I work part time, that would be a max of 3 shifts to make any adjustments! Plus that's 3 shifts if Im able to return to work as Im currently off sick.

I worked in HR prior to having DS1 (so 6 years ago) but at that point, if you had too much pregnancy related illness (can't remember what the limit was) they could insist you start maternity leave up to 11 weeks before your EDD. In fact the payroll manager who I worked alongside who was pregnant at the same time as me was forced to do this. Mind you, I think there were issues with absenteeism prior to her pregnancy!

However, as you say they haven't made reasonable adjustments to your work conditions and this is the cause of your absence, I'd say they probably won't be able to force you to start ML early. As it's an informal meeting, I assume you will have a chance to suggest they make alterations to enable you to work up until your intended ML start date.

I thought 11 weeks before EDD was the earliest you can decide go on ML?

From Directgov

Pregnancy-related illness

If you are off work for a pregnancy-related illness during the four weeks before your baby is due, your maternity leave and Statutory Maternity Pay (from your employer) or Maternity Allowance (from Jobcentre Plus) will start automatically, no matter what you had agreed with your employer.

I don't think you can be compelled to begin ML before 36 weeks, no matter how much time off sick you have...

Thanks everyone, I know they cant make me start maternity leave till Im 36 weeks (which is when I start it anyway) but I'm concerned about the "further action being taken" as being disciplinary for being off sick during this pregnancy (with pregnancy related illness). I wanna be clued up on this before I go into the meeting and try to suss out what angle they're coming from.

You can't have sanctions applied to you for pregnancy related absence.

The meeting might be a good opportunity for you to highlight any reasonable adjustments or support that would help you. It'd be interesting to at least start off on this tack to give them the chance to follow your line.

If they then start talking about sanctions / targets / disciplinaries I'd suggest telling them that your understanding is that pregnancy related absences fall outside of this and can't be subject to sanctions as this would be discriminatory. If the local manager / HR person holding the meeting still thinks differently then ask them to check it out and confirm back to you (often local managers just follow the policy rather than have detailed background knowledge - so the meeting, suggestion to bring a union rep will all be standard stuff rather than aimed at your individual situation).

If they still pursue it then you've always got the option of an appeal / grievance but as with most things it's usually best to try to get them to resolve it informally.

So, basically, if you start off assuming it's cock up rather than conspiracy that might be the best way to go!

Not what you really want to be dealing with at 31 weeks preg!

Hopefully it is a misunderstanding and will be sorted swiftly.

Thanks bookworm, thats what I thought, just needed some reassurance. I'm not a Union member so will prob be attending on my own but will try to keep my cool! If it is about supporting me then it seems a bit late though! I've had a few issues with both my employers whilst I've been off, got enough to worry about!

Personally op I think it's going to be one of three things;

1. you have hit tge trigger points as normally set by the company, to 'tick the boxes' your manager has invited you to an informal meeting to go through the motions ie what can we do to support your attendance and tge outcome being now further action however we may invoke your mat leave early etc.

2. your manager has no clue about the pregnancy related absence and how this alters tge policies.

3. s/he knows and is planning on ploughing on regardless.

How approachable is your manager? Could you have a word about tge meeting, say you are worried and ask them what is going to happen. They will either tell you directly it's one of tge above or you'll get enough info to know.

If it does sound like 2 or 3 you may wish to mention the rules rather than waiting till tge meeting, it would give them tge opportunity to investigate and follow tge correct steps.

Thanks, I have contacted HR and asked what the purpose of the meeting is and said that I did not think the triggers applied to pregnancy related illness. Just waiting to hear back from them now....