Major Issues with Employer.....advice needed

[Tillytots]

Hi girls

Ive just attended a meeting with my employers who basically are threatening me with dismissal over my sickness abscence. I have been off quite a bit with real bad morning sickness which my Dr has signed me off for but yet they are threatening me. I know this isnt allowed but Im not sure how to handle it or whom to take the complaint to. It was HR themselves who are doing the threatening....

Any advice what to do??

 

[hotluck]

I have had a similar situation, but my boss won't get rid of me because he knows I make up for the time off with the work that I do the rest of the time.

I would suggest ringing your MW first and seeing what advice she can give you. She might put you in touch with the right people as I would imagine she gets this quite abit.

 

[sunnyday]

Got this from the DTi website:

Discrimination and pregnancy
It's unlawful sex discrimination for employers to treat women less favourably because of their pregnancy or because they take maternity leave. Such treatment includes things like:

trying to cut your hours without your permission
suddenly giving you poor staff reports
giving you unsuitable work
making you redundant because of your pregnancy (you might still be made redundant for other reasons)
treating days off sick due to pregnancy as a disciplinary issue
Your employer can't change your terms and conditions of employment while you're pregnant without your agreement. If they do, they'll be in breach of contract.

What to do if you have problems
If you are being denied your rights, talk to your employer first of all. If you have an employee representative (for example, a trade union official), they may be able to help.

If this doesn't work, you may need to make a complaint using your employer's internal grievance procedure.

If you're still unhappy, you can make a complaint to an Employment Tribunal.

Where to get help
The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) offer free, confidential and impartial advice on all employment rights issues. You can call the Acas helpline on 08457 47 47 47 from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm Monday to Friday.

here is the link http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/ ... G_10026556

 

[Tiggy26]

Your right, they cannot threaten you with this, you have been signed of with pregnancy related sickness and there is jack all they can do about it. If HR themselves have approached you with this then I would right a letter saying something along the lines of.....

With reference to our recent meeting regarding my sickness and absence I would like to inform you that I have approached ACAS (or your union if you have one) who have ensured me that any absence I have had during my pregnancy of which is pregnancy related cannot be used against me or used to dismiss me. Although I have not been officially dismissed by yourselves, I felt that in our last meeting you were implying that dismissel was ahead unless my absence stopped. This has caused me a great amount of stress and worry and would therefore like to make this an official complaint and take this matter further. I would also like an official letter explaining why I was threatened with these actions and if my job position is still secure.

Im sure you can understand that this has now become a very upsetting matter at this very sensitive time and would appreciate your swift reply.

(or something like that) This has really put a bee in my bonnet i get so angry with companys that think they can treat pregnant woman like this

Hope this helped a little.

 

[muppetmummy]

they are acting unlawfully as they cannot threaten you with being dismissed for being ill.
Don't worry, they are probably just trying to scare you but cannot do anything

 

[soulem]

I would definitely follow the advice of the ladies on here and put in a formal complaint.

When I fell pregnant with my daughter I was 18 and didn't know what rights i had regarding my work. My employer and the supervising staff where I worked at the time (all of whom were related, it was a family-run business) more or less bullied me out of the job. I worked in a care home and I was suddenly given jobs to do that either I had never done before or for which you would need 2 people.

Luckily one the night matrons was a lovely ex-midwife and I confided in her what I was being made to and was in tears, she did say that the work I was being asked to do was no way safe for a pregnant and none-qualified care assistant! The very next day I left!!

If I had known what I know now then I would have taken action against them. Definitely do something, they cannot take your job away and they probably know this and are trying to scare you in the hope that perhaps you will turn round and say "I'm sorry to be such a burden to your company, I'm going to leave", because that way they save money on maternity leave and the like. But after all the hard work you put in before pregnancy they should at least show some compassion towards.

Sorry for my rather long rant, this ALWAYS annoys me!!

I do hope you feel less stressed sooner rather than later, hun!!

 

[Ginnymarie]

awh hun sounds tough

my bosses are both pregnant within weeks of me so they have been in and stuggled and ive been off a month and did get worried until i realised we were protected, they sound horrible and like they are trying to scare you but you do have loads of rights like the other girls have said
xxx

 

[NIE]

Make sure that if you attend any other meetings, that you have your union rep if you have one or another member of staff with you as a witness.

They cannot threaten you with this and I would defo fight them all the way.

Let us know how you get on. xxx

 

[Charlie:-)]

Im really sorry to hear your having problems with work it sounds like they are treating you unfairly.

I can only reiterate the advice the others have given, you might also want to have a look at this useful website www.acas.org.uk I work in HR and I use it at work all the time it is full of info on employment law. Theres also a phoneline where you can call and speak to someone for advise they are very good and offer impartial views.

Hope you get it sorted.

 

[Tillytots]

hi girls thankyou SO much for your replies, help and info

Im definately going to do what Tiggy26 suggested, thats perfect hun thankyou

Il let you know how it goes

Thanks again!!
Sarah
x x x x

 

[lulu]

Hi, only just seen this post, sorry, how did you get on???

What they are doing is completely wrong. I lost my job when I was pregnant for Jack for the same reason as your employer, I took it to a tribunal and won my case hands down, they did not have a leg to stand on. 2 years later I am still fighting the case as I have not received any of the money awarded, but for me it was mainly the principle of it.

I hope you have it sorted now, try not to worry too much though, they wouldn't have a leg to stand on!
x