Going sick from work when pregnant

cole · #1 (**permalink**) 13-12-07, 18:03

My sickness and tiredness have become so bad I am not safe to drive to work or do my work so I have taken time of sick. The thing is my work called me today and were a little off with me. Since the summer I have had some time off sick - 6 weeks in a row (1 when Georgia was in hospital and 5 after miscarraige) and 1 week last month with gastroritos (sp). Am I right in thinking that there isn't anything my work can say or do about any time I have off sick that is pregnancy related?

I wouldn't normally care what they think but they upset me today. I am thinking of asking my Dr to sign me off for xmas.

noababy · #2 (**permalink**) 13-12-07, 20:02

Do they know you are preggers?

Remind me what you work at? Can't seem to remember-actually don't know if I ever knew-lol.

emmab23 · #3 (**permalink**) 13-12-07, 20:18

Yep as far as i know your employer cannot do or say anything if your sickness is pregnacy related. Even if they do not know they still cant, but think you do have to tell them at least 20 weeks before your due date.

cole · #4 (**permalink**) 13-12-07, 20:23

Yes my bosses do know cause I have to lift some heavy files and lots of paper work. I work in an accounts office.

ladybug · #5 (**permalink**) 13-12-07, 20:27

Cole I am off sick from work at the moment. Yahoo?

cole · #6 (**permalink**) 13-12-07, 20:30

My Yahoo is on - dont know how to use it.....

victoria9bunny · #7 (**permalink**) 13-12-07, 20:35

Hi Hun, I really wouldn't worry too much and they shouldn't have made you feel bad by being off with you. I'm sure there is legislation in place that protects a woman who is absent from work due to pregnancy related illness - I don't think there is anything at all they can do about it until you are so many weeks before your due date and then they can make you start your mat leave. Get signed off for xmas, you are having a struggle at the minute and it will lift a weight from your shoulders. Take care xxx

Claire76 · #8 (**permalink**) 15-12-07, 13:30

They can't do a thing hun, pregnancy related anything is fine, they don't have a leg to stand on so take as much time off as you need xxxxxxxx

logans_mum · #9 (**permalink**) 15-12-07, 13:34

Yeah as far as I know they can't say anything as it is discrimination. I was off work for 8 weeks last time due to the sickness and was annoyed because I had to tell work that I was pregnant earlier than I wanted. They had been off with me because I was off sick but as soon as they heard I was pregnant the difference was amazing! Also I had had a miscarriage before Logie so I told them that too and that the stress wouldn't be good for me or the baby and then they couldn't be nicer. You need to get a doctors note for any time off though and employers can be pretty strict about you having this. Also I needed my doc to sign me back on again when I was ready to go back to work or they wouldn't have let me start back otherwise!
Whether they have to pay you for any time off will depend on the conditions in your contract so you should check this if you have a copy or contact your HR dept.
I worked for a disability charity so they had to be really careful that they did everything right with me! The most important thing is not to worry about it as the stress isn't good. If you do qualify for paid time off I would definitely consider taking Christmas off if you can get doc to sign you off and also if you can afford them not to pay you if you don't qualify for paid time off. xo