Manager pushing me for letter, I can't get one?

[PayingMyWayYouSay]

Hello, here's so background.

My manager wants me to get my absence explained in a quick brief with dates of when I was signed off from and to... From my GP.

I have been back about a week and a half now and I still can't get one.

There were three sick notes in total, all of which were sent to her via email during my absence.

However, I've only been able to give in 2 out of the 3 in person since one has been lost somehow

Furthermore, it's not really that. It's the fact they aren't stamped so my manager says they 'could have been signed at random by anyone'.

Where do I stand here? If I don't give one in by tomorrow, it'll be reported that I haven't complied with the sickness procedures in a timely manner.

I have horrendous HG sickness and it's still very bad, only difference now is I'm keeping things down better. I'm really quite stressed over the whole ordeal. I just don't know what to do. This is a GP surgery that never has appointment until like 4 weeks in the future, and the triage never calls you back for 'emergency queries that could lead to a same day appointment'.

I have called my GP surgery every morning since last Wednesday. They said last Wednesday it'd be done by Tuesday. Tuesday arrived and it hadn't even been requested from GP.

I took half day today to march down there and ask them why it isn't being sorted and furthermore, can I please request again. It has been requested again but doubt it'll happen.

I've literally read most of your posts OP with my mouth wide open. This is terrible for you. She has copies of your sick notes and that should be enough, at least until you are able to finally get this other one. The way she is treating you and your pregnancy is completely out of order. You are allowed paid time off for all of your maternity appointments, whenever they are in the day. My midwife even told me they'd have to let me have time of for aqua natal classes if I want to do them! So say that's fine, she can cancel your holiday but you'll still be going to your appointments and this time will be paid. You need to raise this to your HR team or higher management as this is bullying behaviour and should not be tolerated by you, especially at a time when you probably have enough else to worry about. In fact I would ask HR to book a meeting for both of you with them so they can explain to bitch boss exactly what you are allowed to do, what allowance she has to make and lay out any future expectations.

Thanks all, will just be going to the appointments as paid time off for them instead of holiday.

My manager says she knows a contact in the hospital who 'knows people' at my Maternity hospital. She says she can get them to push for a more convenient appointment times? Should I allow this? Am I being unreasonable to not want anyone badgering my maternity hospital to get a better time slot? They really are limited in what they can offer.

HR are a complete nightmare to get hold of and I just don't know what to do. We work within close proximity to each other (me and my manager), so it's very awkward if I'm constantly on the phone trying to contact HR! They aren't answering my emails.

It's not just the sick leave letter she's after.

She has also been pushing me to get a discharge letter from the maternity ward/or get it though my GP somehow.

Last week, I took the week away because I was having contractions. The cause was a nasty UTI and I stayed in hospital to stop them with an IV drip. I was then advised to take the week away and I did. I came back on Tuesday.

My employer insists I must get a discharge letter from them. I have shown her all the notes and details but this isn't acceptable apparently and I must have an obvious discharge letter. I do not have one and again, GP is being a nightmare to get hold of! I showed her evidence of my stay in hospital.

It doesn't help that I've been called 'incredibly unprofessional and unorganised' since one of the three sickness is missing.

If only I had that bloody sick note somewhere

Wow! She sounds awful!

Do your fit to work notes say pregnancy related illness?

If they do, you shouldn't be on phased return, and she shouldn't be putting you through any official sickness procedure.

Email her back and ask for a copy of the sickness procedure guidelines, as you were under the impresssion that pregnancy related illness isn't treated the same as sickness absence.

Also explain the reason why you haven't received a GP letter, and also explain that you will try and get your appointments at the time requested, but this depends on when clinics are held.

Also ask her to carry out a risk assessment, as she needs to make adjustments to your role to help you. Also explain your suffering from HG and ask for suggestions where you can go to vomit.

My fit notes do indeed say pregnancy related illness etc. That's all very clear.

I leave at 2 today. She is going to pull me in about those letters again and to be honest, it really stressed me out to the point that I feel nervous.

Please have a look at the official law guidelines for pregnancy related absence.

"If your employee is not able to work because of pregnancy related illness she is entitled to be off work until she has recovered and is fit for work. No account must be taken of pregnancy related illness, for example, in disciplinary or redundancy decisions using sickness absence levels and it should be recorded separately from other sickness absences."

www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/managing-pregnancy-and-maternity-workplace/faqs-employers/employers-obligations-during-pregnancy-0

Document it and report her harassment. If it wasn't for the fact going off sick might trigger the start of your maternity, I'd advise you to go off from today with work place stress due to bullying.
Take your appointments in work time, not yours. She has no right to see your discharge papers or a letter. Just a fit note.

Email her HRs sickness procedure , tell her you have fully complied with policy by producing med cents and you won't be supplying any further evidence unless specifically instructed to do so by HR.

Are you in the union? If you are it's time to email them (if you are join if you can then contact them).

Wicks She can ask for a discharge letter to prove that I was in hospital though, can't she?

If not, what can I reference to to say that's not the case? HR aren't being responsive and the sickness policy is too vague on pregnancy related things, so isn't reliable to source from as it doesn't mention it

No, not part of the union.

Would they be helpful if I joined?

I think I need a meeting with HR and her. But I'm scared HR will (wrongly but none the less), take her side.

Then who do I turn to?

This is a real stress factor for me and it doesn't help that I'm constantly feeling like death.

She can request the letters.

"A pregnant employee should be treated the same way as other employees. If you have a policy which requires all employees to provide medical evidence after a period of illness then you can ask for this from a pregnant employee. You should not put pressure on her to return before she is well enough to do so. This might be pregnancy discrimination.

www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/managing-pregnancy-and-maternity-workplace/faqs-employers/employers-obligations-during-pregnancy-0

However she can't discipline you.

Ask her to carry out a risk assessment as she needs to make adjustments so you can manage at work. This includes extra rest breaks.

Explain that you will request them again, and refer her to these links. www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/managing-pregnancy-and-maternity-workplace/faqs-employers/employers-obligations-during-pregnancy-0

www.hse.gov.uk/mothers/faqs.htm

A lot of NHS organisations are signed up to the Employee Assistance Programme - it might be on your employer's website, intranet or in the HR files somewhere. Alternatively ACAS might be able to advise.

Ultimately if she keeps it up, you might have to request a copy of the grievance procedure from HR (if nothing else this might jolt them into pulling their collective finger out).

Oh, and in most medical practises/departments if her little friend uses her 'influence' to tinker around with your appointment times when you haven't requested it and she's not part of your care team, that would be misconduct. As would discussing any aspect of your care with your manager.

She can't discipline you for pregnancy related illness, its discrimination and there's a law protecting pregnant women.

I know she's stressing you out, but please be assured she can't discipline you.

Explain about the letters, and ask for an official risk assessment. Please read the links I've posted, they're official guidelines and the law that protects pregnant women.

Offical guidline on antenatal appointments.

www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/managing-pregnancy-and-maternity-workplace/faqs-employees/during-pregnancy-informing-your-employer

Although you're not in the union, do you know who your union rep is?

Might be worth going and having a chat with them, with a view to joining. Sounds as though this is harassment.

I really feel for you. I went through a horrible time with my manager during pregnancy and consequently resigned before returning to work. It shouldn't be like this and reading your post made me feel sick for you.

Deep breaths. Start putting everything in writing; even when she calls you into her office, follow it up with an email to confirm your understanding.

Follow up with your GP for the missing note. Do they have an online system that might work better? Check out their website.

As for her being involved in your antenatal care. This is so far beyond overstepping the mark it's unreal. I know it's hard because you want to be seen as doing everything you can not to impact work, but she is making things difficult for you, not you for her. You offered to take it as annual leave which is more than you had to. I actually think she wants to make you out as the baddie. Just say that you are happy to arrange your own appointments and will always ask for them at the start or end of the day where possible and repeat.

You can actually join any union you like, it doesnt have to be one specifically for your job role.
If you work for the NHS then maybe UNISON would be worth looking at?

I have looked at UNISON and have been advised that they cannot handle cases already existing prior to me joining.

I have spoken with HR and they've said they aren't anything to do with it really, I'll have to go to whoever more senior within my specific department and get them to handle it.

I said well what if I can't get hold of that person? I was told I'll just have to

All seems pretty tits up and I'm almost in tears with the stress of it all.

I just can't handle it, this is getting ridiculous

Pregnancy related sickness is covered in the Maternity policy. Read that thing cover to cover... Managers like this have a habit of not actually knowing what the policies actually are and just pulling "rules" out of their arse. My manager was the same... She shit herself when I presented her with highlighted copies of the policy along with guidance from ACAS, the gov.uk website and a print out of the entire equality act.

As for the having contacts in maternity care and speaking to them I'd be getting in touch with said maternity department and forewarning them that your interfering manager may be in touch and remind them that sharing any information, even down to confirming you are their patient without your say so would be at complete odds with information governance policy.

I can't believe your HR team have fobbed you off like that OP. How is this not in their remit? You need advice on HR policies....I'd find an email for someone as high up as you can and lay out everything that's happened - concisely and factually and show how you have been treated by your manager and let down by a team who should be supporting you. It's a disgrace.