Pregnant, off sick, my rights??

[Londonaries]

I have been off sick for 8 months. I am pregnant (due March 2025) and still off work with ‘’pregnancy related anxiety’’. (Speech notes to distinguish the official reason for readers).

My employer (they know my pregnancy status) has asked me to see their GP for an occupational health review due to the length and nature of my absence. I am currently staying with family which is helping my recovery 100 away from the city the office is based in.

They initially asked me to have an occupational health appointment at a place of my comfort and convenience but are now insisting I see a GP near the office (100 miles from where I am staying with my family) and they said they will not pay travel expenses (I am currently on zero sick pay).

If I do not attend they said they may start a disciplinary process based on not undertaking a reasonable request from employer or unable to work.

This seems a little pushy and I’m not sure on my rights. I am happy to go to their GP if that’s what they want, they are being very specific about seeing this GP I am currently not near, I feel they should cover my expenses.

Anybody have experience of this or know what rights I have?

My commute is a 180 mile round trip, and I do it three days a week.

It costs me £30 a day in petrol.

I think surely you can do it once.

If you have been off eight months, be prepared that this may be out of your hands OP. They legally can dismiss you for failing to provide regular and effective service.

Not really - its a very valid statement - it was not pregnancy anxiety - it was anxiety.

I’m genuinely unaware that any change of reason of fitness to work has any implication/affect. I really do not know the impact of this. It’s just what the note says 🤷‍♀️

Yes but they must show they allowed reasonable time for recovery first. I think this is what the OH meeting will be about. When will I recover and go back.

They’ve allowed 8 months.

You've still not said why you were off initially.

@Londonaries "Yes but they must show they allowed reasonable time for recovery first. I think this is what the OH meeting will be about. When will I recover and go back."

You don't consider 8 months to be a reasonable time for recovery from/to learn to manage anxiety?

I'm surprised you haven't already had to see occupational health tbh. I was off for 10 weeks and had to have a meeting at work then 2 occupational health appointments. Surely you should attend if you want to get back to work as these will be to discuss adjustments you might need and/or issues that are preventing you returning to work. Distance is irrelevant you have chosen to travel away from your home.

Eight months off is verging into unreasonable territory, op.
On your part, not theirs.
They do not need to “show” anything at this point, the ball is in their court, not yours.

Yes I did.

I’m not surprised you have to see their assigned OH person. I had to do that too after a certain amount of months off sick, at first I was assessed as not ready to return and at second appointment, they planned a phased return to work plan for me.

This, really. Labelling it as pregnancy anxiety probably makes it harder for them to sack you, which I guess is the idea. They probably are a bit fed up TBH.

I think they’ve messed up by not getting you to see OH far sooner.

You've been off sick all year, what does their sickness po,icy say about long term absences how much time off do you think is reasonable, did you seek and receive treatment.

I don't understand the issue with travelling 100 miles, surely it is a train or maybe two if a change is needed?

You don't think 8 months is adequate? What steps have you taken to get on top of your anxiety?

I don't understand why they expect you to see the GP face to face.

I would reply that you are very happy to speak to occupation health but that it will have to be done remotely as you are unable to travel at the moment due to your health issues.

I had my occupational health appointment done remotely.

If you are too sick to work, it would be understandable that you are too sick to travel too.

I think they should have involved occupational heath much earlier in the process.

Did you actually ever have the oh meeting at a place for your comfort as they first requested

Did you actually ever have the oh meeting at a place for your comfort as they first requested

Due to anxiety you could request a video consultation. This is not unreasonable give that you were off with anxiety and pregnancy could exacerbate that.

Good luck OP and I hope your getting the right support.

I wonder if a video call might work as well, OP. I would think about what your ultimate aim - do you actually want to go back to this job or would you prefer to be made redundant? If you are back living with family , then you might appreciate the support once you have the baby. From the employer's perspective, they need to know whether you are actually able to return to work. I

They can only make OP Redundant if her role no longer exists

Her role might not exist any longer though. She's been off for 8 months, we don't know her work has been covered.
What would be interesting is how long OP has worked there for. If it's less than 2 years I can see why she might be clinging to the idea that her anxiety is pregnancy related.

They can certainly terminate her contract if she proves unable to do the job.
Inability to actually do the job for whatever reason is a valid reason to dismiss.