help understanding nhs sick pay allowances

[dragonflyinthelillies]

I am pregnant and massively struggling with work (I'm a nurse), my mum has suggested going to the docs and getting signed off work for a few weeks. I think this is almost definitely what I need as I am seriously not coping but am concerned about my sick pay allowances. I have already had a fair bit of time off work in the last year, I had a bad bout of flu and really struggled with morning sickness and think I'm very close to having had 2 months off in the last 12 months

This is what the policy says

The period during which sick pay should be paid and the rate of sick pay for any period of absence is calculated, by deducting from the employee’s entitlement on the first day of sickness, the aggregate periods of paid sickness absence during the 12 months immediately preceding that day

It also says

Employees absent from work owing to illness will be entitled, subject to the conditions of this agreement, to receive sick pay in accordance with the scale below (see Section 12 for provisions on reckonable service):
? during the first year of service – one month’s full pay and two months’ half pay;
? during the second year of service – two months’ full pay and two months’ half pay;
? during the third year of service – four months’ full pay and four months’ half pay;
? during the fourth and fifth years of service – five months’ full pay and five months’ half pay;
? after completing five years of service – six months’ full pay and six months’ half pay

I am now in my third year of service (I started sept 2012 so please tell me that is right?) can someone please tell me if I am right in thinking that I am now entitled to 4 months sick pay in the last 12 months, and that as of my nhs start date I gained another 2 months sick pay. Meaning that I effectively am entitled to another 2 months full pay in this working year (or until I go on mat leave)

Thanks so much in advance to anyone who can help. I don't want to get it wrong!

Sorry I realise that sounds a bit jumbled

I think pregnant related illness doesn't get included in normal sickness so is separate and you shouldn't go onto sick pay but stay on normal pay. I'll ask the nurses at work though.

Is there an HR dept you can ask, or a payroll helpline?

Pregnancy related sickness will come off your normal sick pay, you don't get additional.

Pregnancy related sickness is recorded separately but I think it's still taken off of allowances for sick pay.

Yes, 4 months full pay if your start date was before 19/9/2014.

19/9/2012.

You need to speak to HR as they might not allow you to take 4 months sick then go straight onto Mat leave, you might have to start Mat leave early, so you'll go onto SMP earlier than you might have planned. If finances are going to be an issue you need to check this.

Yes, should be entitled to sick pay. ifuk is right though, if you're off sick in the run up to mat leave they can automatically start it from 36 weeks. When were you planning on starting mat leave?

Thanks guys, I've still got a while to go till Mat leave and I was only wanting a few weeks off to give my body a break and get back to feeling human again. Im pretty sure I'm depressed atm and starting to get spd as well, my job is really intense and I think a break will do me the world of good. I'm just concerned my pay will be affected as I'm still in the qualifying period for determining mat pay. Obviously if I won't get paid I'll just have to struggle through. .. Not that I'm any good to anyone atm.

I never thought I'd say it but I'd quite like a desk job right now!

Can you move to a different department for the duration of your pregnancy?

Speak to your line manager and get another health and safety maternity assessment done. If your current role aggravates your spd, then they have to take that into account and maybe change your role/duties

Yes, you're entitled to 4 months full pay plus 4month half pay. If you did go off sick, let's say on 1st October for talks sake, hr would look back over the preceding 12months and deduct any sick pay you've received in that 12months from your allowance.
And, you are only forced onto mat leave if you are still off sick at 4weeks before your expected week of confinement. May leave will then start at 4weeks before your EWC.
(Btw, if you are sick for non-pregnancy related reasons, it comes off your normal sick pay allowance. If the reasons are pregnancy related, it doesn't)
Hope that helps.

Btw when to say you're still in the qualifying period for mat leave, Do you mean the 17-25weeks of pregnancy (the approx period over which they average your pay to calculate your mat pay)?

Ps I'm a Trade union official (not officer). I no longer deal with many of these types of cases, but I know the rules (and could probably recite them in my sleep! )

Thanks littlegiraffe that helps massively, and yes I'm 22 weeks so still in that period.

I have tried to reduce my duties and have asked to reduce my hours, 12 hour shifts are just too much, but I'm not sure how long this will take to go through management.

The trouble is I work in a very high pressure environment with lots of emergencies and true to form we are short staffed. As much as I am trying to take it easy it is nearly impossible to. Changing departments is unfortunately not an option, I've just got to get to through the next few months.

I had no idea pregnancy was going to be this hard!

Are you sure that there is no possibility of a temporary role/duty change? I am an NHS ward sister, and my HR dept will do their best to keep people at work as its better for both the organisation and the employee. This can often involve short term redeployment. If you go off sick, your dept will be without you anyway! Do you know who your HR person is as it might be a good idea to have a chat with them and your line manager.

Dragon sorry you're a struggling.
You need an Occupational Health referral ASAP. Ask for an urgent appointment. If your management isn't proactive, contact OH yourself then tell management you have done this.
Ultimately, if your role is such that they can't make adjustments (although there aren't many jobs in the NHS they can't shorten the shifts of at the very least) they can place you on medical suspension, which is on full pay.
Make sure you report your symptoms and problems at regular GP appointment so that, if OH ask your GP for a report, it can be produced quickly.

Are you in a Union? This is the kind of thing a union rep can take up for you if you experience problems with management taking things seriously.
Your employer has a (Health &safety Act) duty to protect your health and that of your unborn baby. If you get to the point where you are stressed about going to work, are in regular/constant pain at work, and/or are too exhausted/sore after work to do anything else, you have gone too far.
Look after yourself.

Thanks so much, I never thought of OH, my manager is not the best at personnel stuff and HR are awful. But that might be a good idea.

Unfortunately I never got round to joining the union. I had the best intentions just couldn't decide which one.

Thank you so much guys, I really appreciate you taking the time to reply to me. You have given me some alternatives to look at. I feel a bit more positive about Monday morning now.

I really don't want to just go off sick as it doesn't really solve anything especially as I've still got several weeks at work. I'm going to try and be as honest with my manager as possible, no matter how difficult it is.

You should last have had a risk assessment , has this happened yet.

Risk assessment is worth thinking about. However they usually occur (when tmanagers remember to do them!) as soon as they are advised of the pregnancy.
Where work is becoming problematic as the pregnancy continues, though, OH advise would usually be the best route to seeking support for adjustments.
Good luck dragon.

Meant "Advice!"