Absence leave & miscarriage

[pureofmind]

Hi everyone I'm
Looking for advice please. I work for a massive company and I had a miscarriage earlier in the year and took a month off unpaid. I then couldn't cope with the depression I had and went off again a few months later due to the loss/bereavement. I've had 3 months off in total and Due to this absence I was told they will be recording my sickness leave and progressing me on to turn next stage of absence which can lead to disciplinary and could potentially lose my job due to the time off.
During this absence I became pregnant again and sadly miscarried again, now I feel I so much stress & pressure and feel my original return to work date that I gave before This miscarriage will need to be changed as I'm now grieving this loss. Can they progress me further or sack me ? I am with the union and will
Be ringing them later thanks

Your absence should have been recorded as pregnancy related and therefore cannot be used against you.

www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/information/miscarriage-and-the-workplace/employees-information-and-support/

Sorry you're going through this. When I had my losses I was told the time I had off sick during the miscarriage didn't count towards my overall sickness absence score as it was pregnancy related, so I would definitely check that with your union xx

Were you signed off by your GP? That’s probably the way to handle this, especially if your company doesn’t have a long term sick leave policy. Also, have you had any counselling for your grief? Does your employer offer an Employee Assistance Programme? I think it’s important that you demonstrate that you are actively dealing with your grief. I’m so sorry about your miscarriages.

The issue is before I had this miscarriage I went off with mental health (depression and grief) from my last miscarriage at beginning of year.

I had a period of time back in work of
Two months between the first miscarriage and this current absence so currently it's down as mental health and this will be recorded and can be used against me. But in this absence I had another miscarriage so should they now not be able to use this against me ? Thanks for condolences and advice 🌺

Sorry yes was signed off originally by GP as depression but now will be signed off due to miscarriage/bereavement stress

The previous absence could have been recorded as pregnancy related too if the gp had specified on your fit note/sick note. Make sure this one is put as pregnancy related and then it can't be used against you

Why was your month off during your miscarriage unpaid leave rather than pregnancy related sickness? It seems extremely harsh of them to be doing this due to 2 months off because of depression - was that sick leave or unpaid leave? Sorry if I've misunderstood x

The first time off I had was unpaid my choice as I didn't want it on my sickness record. Then I was back in after that until I went off in May due to depression from the miscarriage at the beginning of the year and im still
Off now. During this absence leave I got pregnant and miscarried last wknd so my gp will now change my sick note from depression to miscarriage which I then wondered can they put this whole absence as that so I don't get it progressed further on the absence stages.
Sorry it's confusing !

Ah ok, I think they can only do that if your gp gives you a sick note with that reason for the whole period x

They can’t subject you to a detriment due to the miscarriage itself, but stress/depression arising from the miscarriage can be subject to attendance management/capability proceedings as both sexes can suffer depression.

Have you had some counselling? I know miscarriages are awful, but such prolonged absences are unusual.

@HermioneWeasley I was referred by employers to a counselling service for miscarriage but they have a wait list that quite long. I was due to go back in two weeks but like I said I had a second miscarriage over the weekend so that's changed things as like you say it's prolonged absence but how long is a piece of string when it comes to grieving the loss of your babies ??
Never mind the physical that comes with it too

It all depends on what your doctor certified your leave as, if it is certified as depression I don’t think it will count as maternity related sick leave.

The current period of leave starting with your new doctors note won’t count though.

Maternity Action have good advice - maternityaction.org.uk/advice/miscarriage-stillbirth-and-neonatal-death-rights-to-time-off-and-pay-for-parents/