Fit Note - Reduced Hours

[lauryloo]

I am currently 25 weeks pregnant and have been struggling with recurring UTI's but to date i've only taken 3 days off (including today). I called my employer yesterday to tell them i was taking a few days to allow antibiotics to work and also as i am in a fair bit of discomfort. I was told that as this is my 2nd one in 3 weeks that this is unacceptable.

I am finding working full time really difficult as I have had other health issues which i have pushed myself to work through. I spoke to my line manager about reducing my hours a few weeks ago and the idea was dismissed.

Due to the fact the doctor has told me to expect recurrent utis until the baby is born, as well as the fact i am suffering from depression (which the employer knows about), and generally exhausted I am looking at the option of reducing my hours through a fit note from the doctor.

If am at work 3 days per week and off 'sick' the other 2, do i get ssp for these 2 days, my employer does not have a company sick pay scheme in place at my level. I am due to start my maternity leave on 16th August.

Any advise would be much appreciated.

Doesn't sound like your employer is being particularly supportive if you're getting told off for 2 days off sick in 3 weeks!

If you reduce your hours you wouldn't be off sick for the rest of the time. If your employer hasn't been supportive to date and refused reducing your hours a few weeks ago do you think they will change their mind if it's recommended by a doctor?

Obviously if your doctor feels you are genuinely not fit to do your job unless you can reduce your hours that's what you should do, but just bear in mind there's a risk your employer might say they can't facilitate that and you'll have to go off sick altogether. Of course the prospect of either allowing you to reduce your hours or have you off sick altogether might make your employer more likely to agree.