getting signed off or early mat leave?

[titch]

Im off to the midwife tomorrow and I basicaly plan to beg her to let me finish work a few weeks early. I have to give my work 4 weeks notice to alter the start date of my mat leave unless its on medical grounds. I had a near faint on friday and was really sick and felt faint out shopping this morning too. Got sent home from work last week cos of it, and Im really struggling. Im exhausted 24-7 too, feeling quite stressed with work stuff too. Im hoping that this will be enough for midwife to agree that I need to start taking it easy BUT I dont really want to go 'sick' cos Im not really sick, Im just pregnant and tired.

So I was wondering if midwives ever write notes recommending mat leave starts now type thing that I can give to work? If not then my only choice is to be 'sick' but I feel like Im skiving lol.

Anyone had any experience of this? I know midwives cant write sick notes, so I'd have to see the doc to get this

 

[katietateypot]

i started parentcraft classes last monday and was told by both the MW and Physio that after 30 weeks you don't have to give that much notice if you want to leave work earlier than planned, they say work says that becuase it is more convenient for them.
Double check but i have been told if i went in on monday to leave the end of the week it was OK to do that. They both said work should have someone to temp if they need it anyway incase we go ealrly or need time off for other medical reasons.
It doesn't really apply to me as i'm a student though

 

[titch]

hmm thats interesting , thanks. Ill have a look into it. I think medical grounds might be easier. Ive told work that Im fainting, so maybe if I ring occupational health tomorrow morning, I might be able to get risk assessed again and they'll prob decide its too dangerous for me to work with special needs children and pass out on them!!! I assumed I had to get a doctors note.

 

[Tasha89]

I think your employer can force start your maternity leave up to 4 weeks before you intend to take it if it's pregnancy related - you'd be classed as on maternity and not sick then? I'll try and find out... x

 

[Zazu]

I have no idea about being signed off or changing your mat leave, but could you speak to them about more flexible hours, or shorter days for the last few weeks? Thinking about speaking to my boss myself, i am starting to struggle now - hard work making a baby! xxx

 

[vixforever]

Hope you get to leave a little bit earlier tiny x x

 

[Rosie's Mummy]

Tiny you could always ring ACAS 08457 474747 - they would be able to tell you exactly xx

 

[evajo]

No advice hun - but glad you gonna finish early sounds like you need to have a proper long rest x

 

[megsmeadow]

The NHS policy says 4 weeks notice but my HR said they can action it in a few days. I got my sick line extended by four days so they would start my mat leave two weeks earlier than I had told them and they only needed a few days to do that. If you are off on sick leave and it's pregnancy related it will not affect your absence record, and will also trigger the start of mat leave 4 weeks before edd rather than any other date you might have given. I checked it all out (I'm also a union rep!). It's entirely up to you whether you negotiate sick leave or early mat leave. I didn't feel 'sick' either when I was signed off but I knew being at work was only making my pain rocket!!

 

[ERIN84]

From what Megs has said, maybe take the sick until your mat leave starts? If you feel bad about it you are obviously the kind of person that doesnt take the piss so surely your boss will understand? You definitly need to finish though Tiny - sounds like you need to rest xxx

 

[titch]

I checked it all out (I'm also a union rep!)/QUOTE]



My favourite type of person!!!

Ive only had 2 days sick in this job and both pregnancy related so I havent really got a sickness record. The 2nd day I actually went to work and got sent home by half 10. I dont think theyve got a leg to stand on if they want to give me grief about going on the sick but I am scared of the managers

I feel a bit better about getting signed off sick now. I'll speak to midwife today, my appointment is half 11, then I'll ring occupational health and request a new risk assessment in light of all this fainting and sickness, and lack of ability to concentrate. If I still get nowhere I think Im just gonna self certify for a few days to get a bit of a break

 

[megsmeadow]

Hope you get on ok this morning!! And Union reps aren't usually that popular

 

[Tasha89]

And Union reps aren't usually that popular

Never?! I love our Union rep! He's a total legend! My place were screwing me over with my maternity pay but he totally kicked ass! lol!

 

[ERIN84]

Let us know how you get on Tiny - I bet she gets you signed off! xxx

 

[titch]

HI girls, just got home. Basically she said I need to rest, she repeated my iron levels test, to make sure thats not whats making me tired and faint. She's totally powerless to do anything but suggested I either phone HR and explain that I have low blood pressure and fainting and request to start mat leave early, and she said I should say its either mat leave or Ill go on sick leave (aparently that scares them into agreeing to anything!! lol) but she also said I could just take a week off, get the GP to sign me off and see how I do through the week.

So I went to get a GP appointment but they're all gone, so have to ring at 8am tomorrow morning. Its so difficult to get organised with this stupid same day apointment system.

Im gonna ring HR now and tell them the situation and see what they suggest. Then Ill call in sick for tomorrow so my clinic can be cancelled this afternoon instead of a mad rush in the morning. I HATE calling in sick so much!

 

[ERIN84]

Needs must hun. You NEED to rest, bubs needs you to rest! Get your appointment with GP sorted first thing and then, hopefully, you can relax. The fact that you have such a good attendance record should stand you in good stead with the managers!

I'm finishing in 2 weeks (a week earlier than planned) and I feel really bad as will have to re-arrange all my clients but mine and bubs health has to come first!

xxx