When counting number of days absence, should pregnancy related days be counted? (Teaching)

[minigirl]

I am applying for new jobs and my Head was asked for a reference. He told me today he had written a reference for me but I should know that I had taken 86 days absence in the last two years. I was shocked! After much digging around, I managed to find out that 69 were pregnancy related and 5 were scan dates (of which I only took half days). Is this really right? Should these days be counted when recording it on a reference. I thought pregnancy related days did not count, and certainly scan days I thought did not. He has since agreed to take off the scan days. Does anyone know where I stand on this?

Thanks

Just running in, back soon - You can't suffer a detriment because of pg-related illness, pg-related sickness must not be recorded as absence for the purposes of disciplinary action or dismissal. I would say that you would suffer a detriment as a result of that being on your reference so it should not be there.

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have you called the ACAS telephone number? They're very helpful, but I do think flowerybeanbag is right

I would phone my union and ask them

According to www.direct.gov.uk: 'All pregnant employees, however long they've been in their jobs, are entitled to reasonable time off work for ante-natal care. Any time off must be paid at your normal rate of pay. It is unlawful for your employer to refuse to give you reasonable time off for ante-natal care or to pay you at your normal rate of pay.

Ante-natal care may include relaxation or parent craft classes as well as medical examinations, if these are recommended by your doctor. If you can, try to avoid taking time off work when you can reasonably arrange classes or examinations outside working hours.'

You'll need to dig further to find out about pg-related illness but it sounds like you boss has some 'issues' about antenatal time off!!

what flowery said. is the reference asking for how many days sick? or asking how many days absent?

Were those 69 days mat leave or pregnancy related illness?? I am suprised as that adds up to 14 weeks off, which is quite a lot of sick days, unless they were actually mat leave IYKWIM

Thanks everyone for your advice. I had complications at the beginning of the pregnancy (4 and a half weeks off) and then pre-eclampsia at the end and my ds was born 6 weeks early. All weekends are counted if you are off Fri and Mon (4 days and not 2), plus any holidays you are off count too.... it al counts up! Anyway, I will be digging a little more and if it seems like I am not getting interviews as a result of the reference and time absent from school, then I may take things further....

Thanks again.

Of course, the other side of the coin is that if a potential new employer decides not to shortlist you because of your excessive absence, which is pg-related, that would be sex discrimination...

Having said that, much easier if the issue doesn't arise on the reference in the first place!

I am within my right to call the prospective employer to ask why I have not been offered an interview if my references have been called. I will give it a week and if I have not heard anything, I will certainly make that call! Thanks again for the advice.

Email your Union - I found the teachin unions very good in the past

I wouldn't wait and see, I'd get union advice now. It can't help your job hunt if the reference is sent in its current form each time. Also, are you applying for jobs in the same education authority or different ones. If different, do they count absence in the same way?