Work and maternity appointment issues

[Summer39]

Recently informed my employers about my pregnancy, one director in particular is being quite difficult. I had a few days off sick here and there in the first 10 weeks for migraines, none of which I went to the doctors about as I knew there was nothing I could do.

It took a while to get my booking appointment through and when I got the letter it was quite short notice, I told my workplace I had kept having migraines and this GP appointment was for that and I took the day as holiday. Then my 12 week scan appointment came through and I took a days holiday again at short notice. No one knew I was pregnant at this stage.

Fast forward to now and everyone knowing and my bosses want letters from my GP appointment. I haven’t even had a GP appointment about this pregnancy as I was told to self refer to local maternity unit.

My question is, can I get in trouble for lying about the appointment? Legally I didn’t think I had to disclose what my appointments were for, and I certainly wasn’t keen on telling anyone before my 12 week scan just Incase. I’m hoping to just present letters about my last two appointments and that will be accepted.

TIA and sorry for the long essay!

I don’t understand why they want proof if they authorised you to take a few days holiday - what you do on a days holiday is none of their business.

They are definitely being unreasonable about this. You shouldn’t get into trouble about lying - any reasonable employer would understand that a woman wouldn’t want to disclose pregnancy at such an early stage.

They are very lucky that you took holiday to go to GP appointment as if you had told them you were pregnant then they would legally have to give you time off fully paid anyway (as is the case for all ante-natal appointments).

Why do they want proof? You're allowed a sick days without going to the Drs- often the Dr advises just to rest and go to pharmacy anyway so no point in going to Dr.

If you do need any legal/employment advice then go to Maternity Action and call them. My boss was an absolutely awful bully in my pregnancy (honestly made my life a misery) but I spoke to this charity and they helped me so much.

Good luck and congratulations!

Where I used to work repeated absences for the same thing would trigger an occ health referral, so if you were self certifying saying migraines, then said you had an appointment about the migraines, but you weren't actually having migraines, there would be disciplinary consequences. Though probably not if the real reason turned out to be pregnancy rather than piss-taking!

On the other hand, pregnancy related sickness can't be counted against you, but I'm not sure what the rules are if you told them it wasn't?

They maybe want clarity on how to record, as pregnancy related absences are counted differently.

Can you request a meeting with HR / a sympathetic boss to clarify? I'd be tempted to say you were having migraines, that it turns out may be pregnancy related, and that the appointment was with your midwife but you didn't want to tell them that at the time (understandably).

If you had told them it was a midwife app you'd have got paid time off, so they're better off for you taking holiday really.

If you took it as annual leave they surely they can't ask you for appointment details?