Advice regarding Work / Pregnancy / Pay

[Happy84]

Hi all,

I'll try and keep this brief but bare with me...

Basically, I'm 10 weeks pregnant & work with young children. A child in my setting may have Congenital CMV - which for those that aren't aware is a condition which if caught in pregnancy can cause major issues for the baby - at best, learning difficulties, disabilities, sight & hearing problems and at worst, severe brain damage! It is my understanding that many people pick the flu-like virus up as a young child and therefore become immune to it. But not everyone does pick it up, and this is when it becomes dangerous if picked up in pregnancy.

My boss took me aside and told me, and that she'd called the health department & they pretty much played it down saying it wasn't a problem for me & just to keep my hygiene levels up. I asked my boss if I needed to look into it myself or let my midwife know and her answer was NO.

I worried about it a little and did some research. I wasn't happy with what I was reading. Basically it is passed through bodily fluids. The child could sneeze next to me (which has happened!) or onto a surface which I could then touch and therefore Ive picked up his bodily fluids?! I contacted my midwife and she told me I needed to get an urgent blood test the following morning to check for antibodies (to see if Im immune) and to stay off work until my results come back.

My main query and the advice I'm after is regarding pay... Am I entitled to be getting full pay while Im having to be off work waiting for the results? As I'm off through no fault of my own, because being at work may be putting me at risk. My company doesn't pay sick pay, I just get statutory sick pay after being off 3 days. But I am entitled to paid maternity appointments.

I'm going to ring head office tomorrow morning, but I just wanted to get some advice before I speak to them as to what I SHOULD be entitled to, rather than what my company THINK I should get. Finding it hard to find info online as the situation is so complex.

Any advice will be gratefully received, thanks guys!!!

 

[jemfox]

hiya, you would be paid the same as if you were not pregnant I think then as u say after 3 days SSP. ive been using ACAS as having problems with my work also, take a look at there website or give them ring they sre very helpful
xx

 

[Happy84]

Thanks for replying hun. So I won't get paid even tho I can't go for no other reason than work may be putting my pregnancy at risk? That sucks. I'll take a look at ACAS thank you!

 

[jemfox]

well I got that information off ACAS it says u get paid the same as if u was not pregnant. worth giving them a quick call, a lady on this forum told me to contact then a couple of days ago and they really are helpful xx