If you are not fit to return after mat leave

[indigobarbie]

I am currently on mat leave but am struggling with SPD and have been advised that it in my case it may take a long time to get back to normal. On my returning to work form (the 8 weeks notice one) the part to sign says 'I declare in my opinion that I am fit to return to work'.

The question I am asking is - how should this be tackled? If I know I won't be fit to return then do I advise my work that I will be seeing my Doctor, and therefore don't sign the form? Or do I sign the form and send it back and then see my Dr for a line? This sounds a bit unfair as obviously they will be expecting me to return?

The problem with this is that I was signed off before the baby was here from 24 weeks with SPD as it was very bad. I am better than I was but I am really struggling with it, as now I have the baby to care for too.

This is worrying me as I don't want to return to work only to know I won't be able to cope physically, I can't jeopordise my body any more but I have to make sure I do the right thing for myself and my employer.

Don't fret.

You ring HR (or your manager) and explain the SPD. You then 'return' to work, but are signed off sick if you are not well enough.

Why do you need to give 8 weeks' notice of returning to work? You only need to do this if you are going back before the end of the full year and on a different date to the one you originally gave. It seems strange to be going back early if you aren't well.

What Ribena said. Unless you want to return early, which I presume you do not, your employer should assume you are taking a full year unless and until you notify them otherwise.

Don't worry about any form. Assuming there's no change to the date you originally stated you wanted to return, then leave it at that. If your return is imminent and you therefore know you won't be fit, then tell your manager about your condition, that you may not be fit in time, and let him/her know you will be seeing your GP to find out and get a sick note if needed.

flowery, ribena thank you for taking the time to reply. I haven't given a date for returning, so I think I'll have to play it by ear and see how I am before I start to panic.

I was signed off since Nov with SPD and mat leave started 4 weeks early in Jan this year. I am probably worrying far too much but there is the financial implication of being off for a year. I hadn't intended to take more than 6 months mat leave, but of course things don't always work out the way we expect.

When I was first signed off my occupational health Dr advised that he thought working from home would be a good arrangement to which I was almonst begging for them to let me do it, but my boss had other ideas. He advised that there was no way my job was suitable for a working from home position and that it would mean them having to do health and safety risks for my home and to get me a proper desk etc etc - I said it would be no problem and they didn't want to do it. IMO I could work from home no problems, in fact if it stopped me from being off sick after mat leave then it's preferable.
Thanks again

Well since you went on maternity leave the sickness arrangements with regard to medical certificates have changed anyway. Doctors now issue a 'fitness note' rather than a sickness note, so if your doctor feels you would be able to work from home, he/she will put that on there as a recommendation to your employer, which will certainly help your case I would think.