Work related stress

[Southwind]

Can someone tell me if Im required to give regular updates to my employer whilst I am signed off with work related stress. I have informed them and sent them the doctors notes each time but I didnt think I needed to do anymore than that. I am also pregnant which has alot to do with being off but doctor decided to write work related stress on the sick note.

I have been told this is what my personel manager has said about me, but surely they should be checking in on me?? Ive not heard from them the whole time Ive been off.

Thanks in advance

They should be contacting you to see how you are getting on, arranging review meeting etc. You are under no obligation to contact them (unless it says something to the contrary in your terms and conditions?)

Why didn't your GP put preg related illness on your sick line? Its unfair to say its work related stress if its not

Hi lal123

Thanks for replying, thats what I thought but I wanted to check. There is nothing in my T&C to say an employee has to give regular updates.

Technically I suppose it is work related stress as I do not have a pregnancy illness which is stopping me from working, but, the stress began after I told them I was pregnant................I do not doubt for one minute they are trying to get me to resign.

Your absence policy or similar should say about levels of contact during long term absence. Good practice would be for them to be contacting you fairly regularly, depending on the circumstances.

Are you in contact with your line manager at all? At what point did contact lapse? Presumably when you initially went off sick you didn't know it would be long term, so you presumably phoned in sick to your line manager and were in reasonable contact then?

You say your doctor 'decided to write work related stress on the sick note'. It doesn't sound as though your pregnancy is anything to do with your being off sick, so that's correct. Their behaviour towards you is presumably what's causing the stress, and you may feel their behaviour is connected to your pregnancy, which is of course not acceptable, if that's the case, but that needs to be addressed as a separate issue.

Why do you think they are trying to get you to resign? It doesn't sound like they're doing anything at all at the moment, is that not right? Not pressuring you to go back or threatening disciplinary action or anything? Good practice indicates that they should be in touch absolutely, but I don't think you can take not being in regular touch as an attempt to get you to resign.

Hi Flowerybeanbag

Thanks for replying. Im not in contact with my line manager as she is part of my larger issue and find her intimidating. The reason I believe they want me to resign is because from the moment I told them I was pregnant they piled on the stress, kept changing my work load, who I reported to, gave little support and then proceeded to make false accusations to me reducing me to tears. There is a lot more to it but I am slightly paranoid about who could be reading this thread. I have already taken advice and I have been told by an employment specialist that I have a case for sexual discrimination and harrasment which I am curently pursuing.
The thought of having to speak, see or go back to that place makes me feel sick but at the same time I am absolutely gutted that the job I have been doing for over 12 years has come to an end this way. It also upsets me that after many loyal years that they do not even care enough to see how I am doing.