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Pregnancy Related Ilness - Help

13 replies

nisha85 · 06/07/2010 00:24

I need some help, i started a job in April with the NHS. I was already 3 months pregnant. I am having a terrible pregnancy and I had 3 days of in april due to vomiting (they did not know I was pregnant then). I told them in May, I have had the last two weeks off as I have broken out in rashes, severe headaches and itching/vomiting . The doctors booked me off for two weeks. When I went into work today the manager approached me and she seemed upset and said she is just informing me that she is sending me for a occupational health assessment to see if I am really fit to work and she has a obligation to inform me.

This is the same manager who previously told me I would have to make up the time for my antenatal care appointments, i had to contact HR for them to state that antenatal appointments are paid.

I require some advice on how to deal with this.

OP posts:
seeyoukay · 06/07/2010 07:47

Antenatal appointments are paid.

They can refer you to occupational health. If they find your not fit for work they will have to suspend you on full pay until your maternity starts.

Bonus I'd say.

nisha85 · 06/07/2010 09:02

Hi

I am bank staff so if they suspend me I do not think that I will be getting paid.

OP posts:
lal123 · 06/07/2010 09:21

Its in your own interests and the interests of your baby to have an appointment with occ health - you don't want to be putting your or your baby's health at risk unnecessarily. Good luck

seeyoukay · 06/07/2010 09:37

nasha85: If occ health says you cannot work due to preg related illness they can only suspend you on full pay - that is the law.

detoxdiva · 06/07/2010 09:47

What seeyouokay said.

If they suspend you for your own health benefits, this must be on full pay. Your job role is irrelevant.

Antenatal visits are paid and you do not have to make the time up.

flowerybeanbag · 06/07/2010 10:32

No no no no no.

Where on earth did you hear that seeyoukay and detoxdiva? Quite worrying!

The only difference between normal sickness absence and pg-related sickness absence is that pg-related sickness absence can't be counted against you in terms of possible disciplinary action for absence, or when selecting for redundancy.

There's absolutely no need for an employer to suspend someone on full pay just because they are ill and not fit for work.

I would really like to know where you heard that.

If, after a H&S risk assessment, it is found that there are health and safety risks for a pregnant woman if she continues to do her job, then adjustments must be made to that job. If adjustments are not possible, then alternative work must be found for her.

In the very unlikely event that it is not possible to make adjustments to the job and there is literally no work available for the woman to do, then it may be necessary to suspend her on full pay.

None of which is remotely relevant here, but seemingly necessary to post.

nisha in answer to your questions you must be given paid time off for antenatal appointments, yes.

In terms of your sickness there's nothing to worry about. The OH adviser will be able to make sure your manager knows to what extent your illness is affecting you and will be able to advise that either you should be signed off work completely, or that adjustments to your tasks or working arrangements could be made.

If your manager is concerned that you may not be fit to work, she is absolutely right to get professional advice to ensure that she handles the situation properly, doesn't let you work if you are not fit, and is fully informed about your condition.

seeyoukay · 06/07/2010 11:00

Which is what I said. I just didn't use so many words

detoxdiva · 06/07/2010 11:00

Flowery - not sure what you are querying about my post, as all I said was If they suspend you for your own health benefits, this must be on full pay

detoxdiva · 06/07/2010 11:02

Sorry - posted too soon....

Meant to add that I was simply pointing out that she would be paid if suspended, which the op thought she wouldn't be because of her job.

Clearly an employer would always seek to offer alternative duties and/or reasonable adjustments to a pregnant employees role, however if they did get to the stage where suspension was the only option open, then this would always be paid.

flowerybeanbag · 06/07/2010 11:12

seeyoukay that is not what you said.

By seeyoukay Tue 06-Jul-10 09:37:08

"nasha85: If occ health says you cannot work due to preg related illness they can only suspend you on full pay - that is the law"

By seeyoukay Tue 06-Jul-10 07:47:00

"They can refer you to occupational health. If they find your not fit for work they will have to suspend you on full pay until your maternity starts."

Where did you hear that employers must suspend employees who are not fit for work due to pregnancy-related illness?

If you read my post I make absolutely clear that that is not the case. Suspension on full pay would only be where a H&S assessment says the job poses health and safety risks to the woman, if adjustments can't be made and if no work can be found. It's nothing to do with pg-related illness.

(detoxdiva I only added you in because you said you agreed with seeyoukay so I was assuming you'd heard the same rather scary thing from somewhere.)

seeyoukay · 06/07/2010 14:51

I see the difference now...my mistake.

LouM10 · 06/07/2010 18:44

This happened to me. I suffered with fluctuating blood pressure causing severe dizziness. Work were funny with me until I went for a occ. Health meeting. As soon as the Dr. confirmed it, work were all of a sudden lovely with me. I have had a disciplinary hearing which is mandatory if you have more than so many days off work.
Even though I have been off months, it is a pregnancy related illness, therefore they can't discipline me, and they can't cut my my pay, which should have been halved after I had been off 3 month.

Hope this helps

LouM10 · 06/07/2010 18:46

Oh yeah, and all they can do, is if you are on the sick 1 month before you EDD, they can force you to start maternity leave then.

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