Sick leave before maternity leave

[Deelm]

Looking for some advice please. I have been off work for a number of weeks now due to stress. I am due to return on what will be my 4th week before maternity leave, I really do not feel ready for returning but worried they may attempt to make me start maternity leave early, however my stress is not maternity related, it's due to the fact I've been at home for 8months with an unreasonable workload and non interested management. Any advice please?

Sounds like you've had a rough time! They can make you start your maternity from 36 weeks pregnant if you are off work for any reason whether the illness is maternity related or not

Sorry you're feeling stressed op. They can enforce mat leave to start at 36 weeks if needed and it sounds like you're not fit for work due to stress so why not start mat leave?
Knowing you don't need to go back will take the stress away for a considerable period and it's hard being heavily pregnant.

FWIW I've been there and I know how hard it is. I had a really rough time with my previous employer and came to an agreement with them after my last mat leave. X

@Puppydogg1

Sounds like you've had a rough time! They can make you start your maternity from 36 weeks pregnant if you are off work for any reason whether the illness is maternity related or not

No they can't, where did you get that?

If you are off sick with pregnancy-related illness at 36 weeks, they can start your maternity leave. If the absence is entirely unrelated to pregnancy, they can't force you to start it any earlier than you otherwise would.

I'm only 31 weeks at present and due to finish up in 4 weeks. Ideally I would like to return before I knock off to finalise things but I just feel returning now I will be back to square one with workload. So really as long as I'm back before 36 weeks there's not much they can do?

@Deelm

I'm only 31 weeks at present and due to finish up in 4 weeks. Ideally I would like to return before I knock off to finalise things but I just feel returning now I will be back to square one with workload. So really as long as I'm back before 36 weeks there's not much they can do?

Yes that's correct providing it's not related to pregnancy x

@Deelm

I'm only 31 weeks at present and due to finish up in 4 weeks. Ideally I would like to return before I knock off to finalise things but I just feel returning now I will be back to square one with workload. So really as long as I'm back before 36 weeks there's not much they can do?

You’re fine to stay off. You’re even fine to stay off for non pregnancy related anxiety until your due date if you really want.

Hope you feel better soon.

@flowery that's the case at my work, any absence maternity related or otherwise would trigger mat leave to start at 36 weeks.

Its got to be a maternity related illness to trigger maternity leave at 36 weeks +

[quote Puppydogg1]@flowery that's the case at my work, any absence maternity related or otherwise would trigger mat leave to start at 36 weeks. [/quote]
Policies can be more generous than the law, but they can't put restrictions in that go beyond the law. They can't start maternity leave at 36 weeks if a pregnant woman is off sick for reasons other than their pregnancy. They are wrong to do so.

[quote Puppydogg1]@flowery that's the case at my work, any absence maternity related or otherwise would trigger mat leave to start at 36 weeks. [/quote]
Forcing someone to start maternity leave if they are off sick for another reason would be completely unlawful.

@Puppydogg1 Your workplace is acting illegally.