Can I ask what a new employer sees as excessive sick leave?

[Moanyoldcow]

Just that really. I'm currently pregnant and having some health issues. I am going to have to take some sick leave and am just worried about my sickness record.

I've hardly been sick the past two years (2/3 times a year) but will probably go up to nearer 10 this year.

I'm not planning to look for new work necessarily but you never know. Would a new employer find 15 days sick over the last two years unacceptable?

Not an expert, but I am sure I have read things about pregnancy related sickness being classified differently not "normal" sickness?

Hopefully someone better informed will be along shortly...

I think a lot depends on the culture of the organisation. Where I work just now 2 or 3 absences a year would be seen as excessive but I have worked in other organisations where that would have been seen as quite reasonable. Sorry, it probably doesn't help you much other than to point out there are no black and whites. I would suggest if it comes up in discussion, don't say you've "only" had 2/3 absences as it implies you think that is almost something to be proud of.

I agree that 2/3 absences through sick leave would be seen as excessive - certainly in all the private sector places I've worked.

2 or 3 times a year sick would be excessive here.

The rule of thumb is 6 days per year but if you can explain it (pregnancy) I wouldn't worry too much.

Pregnancy related illness doesn't count towards general sickness.

Certainly in the private sector that is too much. Realistically your work will be picked up by others and its never great (having done this on numerous occasions).

Completely depends where you work as all employers I work with (HR) seem to have different expectations of employees wrt attendance at work.

Depends on how long the sick leave was I think on how it is looked upon. If somebody had one day of sick two or three times in two years that wouldn't be much. But if you're talking about a week or two each time then it would be quite a lot.

2 periods of sickness or more than 10 days spread over 2 years. At least where I work it is.

I've hardly been sick the past two years (2/3 times a year)

This is already quite excessive. If you worked with me I'd think you were a skiving hypochondriac.
If you were to start taking up to 10 (single days/multiple days per illness??) off a year, without having an actual medical condition, I'd not be happy at all.
And yes, I've had babies - several - with a heart condition on top of all the usual pregnancy stuff.

2/3 days of sickness would be seen as excessive? Across a year?? Jesus - that didn't seem much at all to me.

Was my post ambiguous? When I said 2/3 absences I meant days - 2 days for a heavy cold and 1 for a migraine.

Then no I don't think three days in a year is excessive. Try not to worry about it. And as others have said pregnancy related sick leave is counted the same as other sick leave.

meant isn't.

2-3 days per year sickness is definitely not excessive.
The posters saying otherwise are clearly superhuman, if only we could clone them 🤔

And I meant going up to 10 days in total as I suspect I will be signed off for a bit of time to get my BP down.

I'm glad I don't work for you then Bopi. Are you a clever superwoman.

If your absence is pregnancy related it is counted differently.

I have had precisely two days off in four years, for a miscarriage- which ironically I haven't had counted as pregnancy related because the fuckers will fire me if they think I'm going to go off in mat leave.

I've worked in my current job a year. In a team of twenty people, in my immediate circle.
One person has had time off twice, just single days. That's it.
I can't remember the last time I took a sickie. Years ago I think. For flu!
People will definitely notice if you're taking time off regularly.

In the private sector I am in anything more than 3 days is excessive.

Preganancy related is completely different to normal sick leave. There is normally some discretion around disability-related too (though disability related absence must not interfere with the individual being able to do the job, so can't be too excessive).

From personal experience, I know of someone moving jobs with an enormous amount of recent sick leave (100+ days). So I guess employers balance the Leave levels against the positives they believe the candidate would bring.

But bopi she's not!

As to what's excessive- I think it's hard to pin down, but people know who is swinging the lead.
I've had colleagues who took a few times a year when they had serious ongoing health problems, but they made up for it, were flexible, took things on to help others etc - no issue there.
Then there are the ones who take a Monday off for hangovers and that wears thin.

I think for me it's about having a positive balance in the 'giving and taking' bank, as it were.

Numerically they will probably use Bradford factors on you if you want to google that.

Get your illness linked to pregnancy if it is, that protects you

Did you actually read my posts Bopi? Is two absences totalling 3 days 'regularly'?

And the term 'taking a sickie' implies one is faking the leave. I think it's probably people like you and your attitudes around sick leave that makes people like me unnecessarily worried about very normal levels of sick leave.

The the other posters who have explained their situations without judgement I appreciate your help and information.