Off sick and pregnant...help

[lilyflower179]

Sorry for the long story

I started a new job in November, I just don't like it, the people are so obnoxious, they make fun of still births rapes etc and the management are in on it so no point reporting it. Anyway going in was making me so so so ill that I got signed off by my doctor, my sick note says anxiety with depression. I began looking for new jobs immediately, got a few interviews but nothing materialised. After being off sick for 4 weeks I discovered I was pregnant.
This made my anxiety worse and the doctor wasn't happy sending me back there so continued to sign me off. However my sick notes now say anxiety with depression and patient is pregnant.

I'm looking for new jobs but the further into my pregnancy I get its going to be difficult, i know people can't discriminate but no one will want to hire a pregnant woman. And I don't really want to lie and create a hostile relationship with a new employer.

But now I'm in the position where i feel like i have to stay with my current job, the doctor is happy to sign me off my whole pregnancy but i'm worried they will be able to fire me. I know my sick note states about pregnancy and the reason he is continuing to sign me off is to stop stress affecting the baby but its not technically a pregnancy illness is it?

Can someone give me some advice I'm loosing my mind here.

Firstly congratulations on your pregnancy. I can't remember the exact number of weeks but they can only make you go on mat leave if it's pregnancy related and from what you have said it doesn't seem that. So you should be fine following your companies absence policy then going on mat leave. That said your companies absence policy may involve things like occupational health referral, home visit etc as they may expect you to take reasonable steps to get back to work. So be prepared for that. I suggest speaking to hr and putting in a complaint about their behaviour as it sounds disgusting.

I know if its a pregnancy related illness your protected from being fired.
Is this the case with me? Because my sick note says pregnancy?

This is my concern. i don't want to be fired whilst im 4 months pregnant.

I know you're right but im worried if i complain to hr they'll want to get rid of me all the more.

They can't fire you for being of sick without following their absence policy and would be on very thin ground if you are pregnant. You could also chose to go on mat leave. After four weeks most companies would arrange a home visit. This doesn't have to be your home but can just be neutral ground ie not place of work so where ever you feel comfortable. You can also stipulate you only want to speak to hr for example. With stress and anxiety has your gp mentioned it's work related as if it is they should be taking it very seriously as you can put a claim in against them. They should also be putting in reasonable steps to get you back to work. Please try to enjoy your pregnancy and not stress and contact your hr department, I know that's easier said that done.

And I don't really want to lie and create a hostile relationship with a new employer.

^You started in November, had 4 weeks sick and now been signed off indefinitely. I think it is fair to say that your relationship with your employer is too far gone now

I think if you were signed off because of work related stress prior to finding out you were pregnant, you’ll have a very hard time justifying your continued absence as pregnancy related unless you actually develop an incapacity that is pregnancy related. Pregnancy is not an incapacity remember. The doctor putting that you are pregnant does not give you a get out of jail free card for your sickness. Unless you plan to leave voluntarily, I think you need to engage with your employer in order to address the pre existing problems which were stressing you out so much that you needed to be signed off, and show willing to return to work. After being off sick this length of time I would expect them to be applying whatever absence management procedure by now.

Greendale what is the need to be so hostile? I’m not lying and I’m looking for genuine advice.
If you haven’t got anything nice to say don’t say anything at all.
Too many nasty spiteful people these days.

I think Greendale’s point is that you can very quickly alienate an employer, especially a new one, and trying to make a pre existing condition into a pregnancy related one would be one way to go about this.

As you’ve addressed the post which you deem hostile, and not mine which gives you good advice, I have to wonder if you just want to be told what you want to hear.

It is a myth that you cannot be sacked for sickness whilst being pregnant. Your employer should treat you the same as another employee would be, but pregnancy related sickness should be recorded separately and not counted towards disciplinary action. You have stated your incapacity is work related, not pregnancy related.

You need to engage with your employer and sort it out. Ask them to refer you to occ health.

I think Greendale’s point is that you can very quickly alienate an employer, especially a new one, and trying to make a pre existing condition into a pregnancy related one would be one way to go about this.

^That was exactly my point. I wasn’t being hostile, I was being realistic. Do you honestly think any employer would be happy and fine about this situation you have found yourself in?

Could you try to address the root cause of the problem which relates to the bad behaviour of colleagues which you mentioned at the start of this thread.

Arrange a meeting with Occ Health if there is one, including your manager. State you'd like to try to come back to work and need their support because of the issues management are already aware of ( give some specific examples as you've said upthread).

State your intention of getting back to being productive in your job, and ask if they can help support that goal, if so what actual steps can you take together so you can return to work.

This could be the best way of moving things forward, as currently they see you as someone on their books who isn't contributing anything. But you could change all that, if you feel up to it health wise.