Sick leaver versus request for temp change to job- please help!

[screwsinhips]

Hope someone can give me some advice please.

I'm 18 weeks pregnant, have pre-existing joint problems and now have SPD/PGP that is getting worse every week. I can't walk half way around a small supermarket without being in extreme pain. I'm struggling with housework, driving, dressing and generally caring for my toddler. Basically, I can't do much other than sit on my backside without a lot of pain (even on painkillers). And even some sitting positions make me feel like there is an axe going through my pubic bone. (Every time I go to the loo it hurts like I have just given birth).

My work is about 75 per cent desk based, but I also have to be at events (on feet for most of it) or move a lot across a large site to meet colleagues and general be at the location of whichever task I am working from.

I think I could do the basic bits of my job from home - the processing of documents. But I'm not sure I'm up to doing the whole thing for much longer. It's very hard to concentrate when in pain.

So, should I

A) look to be signed off completely (full pay for sick leave), so something else can come in and do my job properly (maternity cover starting early)

B) ask for my hours and workload to be adjusted and reduced (while still on same pay)

OR

C) a combination of the above, whereby I do B while my employers sort cover for A.

I don't want to be sat at home doing nothing, but I don't think I can do my job properly for much longer. I currently want to keep going until after a big event at the end of the month. But I fear that event itself might be the death of me (not literally!).

Any ideas? I feel like I'm letting everyone down and employers are not getting their money's worth. I need to speak to them, but want to go to them with solutions rather than just problems.

Excuse typo in title. I can't even get this right.

You poor thing. I think you should get yourself signed off ASAP. Let your employers worry about cover. That's they're job! Yours is to look after your health.

Ahem. Their job.

When pg with ds2 I had lots of complications and couldn't stand, lift any more than a pen, drive, etc. My employers arranged all sorts with me. I worked from home for half of the week, had "reasonable adjustments" (employers are supposed to do this, I know they all don't but the rules say they should) to allow me to be desk based, not lift anything and no travel to other locations - normally part of my job. I continued to do my (adapted) job well despite all the difficulties. I have nothing but praise for the way they supported me. Other colleagues were moved into different office departments where their work was too high risk for their pg out I'm the community. If they change your job to accommodate your needs, they shouldn't decrease your pay. Check current rights, my own info is a bit out of date as dd is 6.
I don't think you should start mat leave now as you'll end up potentially running out of it when your baby's only a few months old, depends on your finances though obv.

If you end up choosing sickleave, (which tbh you'd be also justified doing) your employers can put you on mat leave at a certain point (used to be 26 wks) if you are off because of your pregnancy.

Thanks both. Mrs Shrek, your employers sound great! I have read a few other threads here and else where and I think employers can only enforce ML from 36 weeks. I am due to finish at 33 weeks anyway (using some AL). I think the fact that money isn't the problem (because I'd be fully paid if sick anyway) and it won't affect ML makes it harder to know how to go forward. I've always just got on with stuff, despite health issues for the last 17 years. Having to ask for any sort of adjustment is difficult for me - I don't like the sense of being beaten.

But what Toaster said rings true, especially where there's the health and wellbeing of two children to consider. Would it be selfish to keep going and make myself less able to care for DD1? And to force more on DH.

I have physio today, so I'll also bear in mind what the HCPs are saying.

Just seen your nn assuming that's not, um, a random choice, then you need to put yourself first. Whatever that may be. Very true about the welfare of yourself and two children who will obv rely on you. My contribution was just to point out that employers can and should make amendments to your duties. If sick leave is full pay and your mat leave doesn't get altered, do it...and save the leave (theyre supposed to carry it over) to take afteryour mat leave finishes. Again, I used extra leave to reduce my weekly hours when I went back

Thanks Shrek - my name describes the pain. I have yet to get actual screws in my hips (though I wouldn't rule it out in future, I already have metal elsewhere). Physio gave me crutches. MW was pretty unhelpful. I think I need to speak to my boss when she comes back next week. Until then, I'm not venturing away from my desk.