Stressed about work and maternity pay!

[ZiggyandBC]

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to get some advice as everyone is telling me different things and I’m confused by it all!

As some of you might know I’ve had awful sickness with this pregnancy and spent the whole first trimester not working, I’ve only just managed to force myself into work this week at 15 weeks pregnant.

I’m still nauseous and being sick although not as often but my work is pretty full on (I’m a support worker) so I’m worried about how I’ll cope with this at work.

I’m also worried that my maternity pay will be affected if I carry on not working and receiving SSP, what would I be entitled to if that was the case?

Worst case scenario is I can’t hack work and need to stay on SSP but I want to know if that’s the case what I’d get maternity pay wise.

If anyone can help I’d massively appreciate it! ❤️

[Purpledoggy]

Best thing to do is talk to ACAS and/or Pregnant Then Screwed. Both know lots about employment law in relation to pregnancy and can give you some advice xx

[JA-fnuk Partner]

Also take a look at gov.uk Maternity pay and Leave

Take care of yourself

Janet

[HollyT7]

check to see what sickness in pregnancy policies they have. I was off for pretty much most of my pregnancy. As if beeb working for over 6 yrs, I revieved 6 months full pay. Then it would go to 6 months half pay.

[Westcoastwestie]

when I needed to take leave I was told by my work that when it was pregnancy related they couldn’t hold it as the same as sick leave. You just have to make it clear it’s pregnancy related when you inform them. It’s recorded differently.

Ask for your policy which HR should be able to send to you or check if it’s tucked away in a handbook somewhere.

Sick for pregnancy shouldn’t be held against you in terms of impacting your maternity pay. The different levels or pay are normally about how long you’ve worked somewhere vs sick leave. Check your policy, the gov website and if you are part of a union check in with them.

Even knowing I’m getting the right maternity pay has me stressed about what I will do when it starts to drop. Good luck.

[Positivechangeplease]

Hi Ziggy, I think I can add some advice here. Firstly, is there any way you can work from home? I was able to and it sucked to be running from the bedroom (where my computer was) to the bathroom to hurl but luckily it meant I didn’t have to disclose my pregnancy too early.

At 15 weeks you should start to feel better soon and then I think you should be able to carry on with work.

Depending on your work policy it will depend whether you get anything enhanced but if you’re in work you’ll be entitled to SMP. I’m pretty sure if you’ve been signed off work on sick leave you’ll still be entitled to it as it’s as if you were working. You have to be working for that employer basically a week before you get pregnant in order to qualify. If that’s the case then there are a number of weeks you need to have worked for them within the year. And I think you have to be working for them still in the 15th week before the due date (so I think that’s week 32)

You could definitely contact citizens advice around the SSP but also as someone suggests the gov website has a calculator that you can follow to work out what you get and if you’re entitled. Imo even if you’re on sick leave, if you’re employed by the same employer you’ll be entitled.