How late to wait before telling Boss

[babysimpson]

I've been looking on the Maternity policies at my work but nowhere does it say how late you can leave it before informing your boss that you're pregnant.

My Boss is a very inconsiderate person and when I miscarried with ym twins, was totally insensitive. I had a total of 7 working days off when I miscarried the 2nd twin at 13w6d and they were not happy that I had so much time off (was off with UTIs, Flu and miscarriages). There has been other issues with me getting time off for attending family funerals as well.

Already I am having to work back any time I take off work for scans, gp appts, dental appts etc so I know when I say I'm pregnant again, they are going to leave things very hard for me.

I don't want to tell anyone until I show but they are so self-centred that they'd think I was just fat. So how late do you think I can leave it before having to tell them?

 

[LadyRoy]

They sound like idiots.

Have a look at these links. You MUST tell them by 15 weeks before your EDD

https://www.worksmart.org.uk/rights/maternity_leave

https://www.nhs.uk/Planners/pregnancycareplanner/Pages/Maternityleavehome.aspx

https://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file51453.pdf

Good luck x

 

[Mummymac]

I dont know much about the rules etc but your work sounds awful... *hug* bet you are looking forward to 9months away from them!!

 

[babysimpson]

yeah I can't wait. I'm even considering not coming back after baby is born. ok, the money is good but the hassle I get isn't. If I did come back I'd want to come back part-time which they would not let me. If it was someone else my Boss would let them and have in the past but they have personal issues with me because of where I was born and brought up etc.

Thanks for the help-

 

[Mummymac]

I do know they cant discriminate against you because you are pregnant!!!

If you feel your being treated unfairly I'd get some sort of legal help!

Good luck hunny x

 

[My_First]

I've been looking on the Maternity policies at my work but nowhere does it say how late you can leave it before informing your boss that you're pregnant.

My Boss is a very inconsiderate person and when I miscarried with ym twins, was totally insensitive. I had a total of 7 working days off when I miscarried the 2nd twin at 13w6d and they were not happy that I had so much time off (was off with UTIs, Flu and miscarriages). There has been other issues with me getting time off for attending family funerals as well.

Already I am having to work back any time I take off work for scans, gp appts, dental appts etc so I know when I say I'm pregnant again, they are going to leave things very hard for me.

I don't want to tell anyone until I show but they are so self-centred that they'd think I was just fat. So how late do you think I can leave it before having to tell them?

Legally they have to allow you to have time off for scans, anti nateal classes etc, without you having to work it back AND it is paid leave too. You could really get them in a lot of trouble with constructive dismissal (ie you felt under pressure to leave as they did not let you have this time off). You need to look up your rights and stick to it. Its not fair that they should do this to you and it is certainly not legal. In answer to your question, however, 15 weeks before due date as already mentioned.

 

[lynzlogan]

i agree with that they have to give you paid leave for scans and appoinments etc, even for birthing classes.

Where i worked when prengnant with Ds they tried to be funny with me for having time off for sickness then back for a week then off again due to bleeding.
In the end 4 weeks before i was due my maternity leave i booked my 4 weeks holiday just to get out of there!
Never went back after i work from home now selling branded makeup and nail varnishes online via ebay and facebook!

 

[babysimpson]

After the miscarriage of the twins and the treatment I got when I requested time off for a family funeral, I put in an official complaint. Every point I made about references to where I was born, my pregnancy and the treatment I got throughout everything that was happening, they spinned to round so that I looked responsible for it all. In the end, I got put on probation for a high absence record and got told I was responsible for my own health and basically to lose weight. There was nothing I could do about it as it was his word against mine. Since then If I am off ill, I am only allowed to be off for no more than 2 days otherwise they apply for a formal investigation. If I have any issues I have to raise them with my boss immediately as they claimed all the problems I pointed out were misunderstandings. They have also put into place that if I take time out of work for any appointment that I work the time back.

I'm not wanting to go through all the hassle of making an official complaint and the treatment I got again while pregnant so I'm happy to abide by these new rules until it comes to a time where I physically cannot honour them. Previous employees have complained before and took it higher with documented and recorded evidence but nothing got done about it. They went to unions etc but the policies at work state that most of them are down to manager's descretion. They all ended up leaving because the stress of fighting them was not worth the outcome.

Sorry for the rant but that info has really helped. Now I jsut need to decide when is the best time to tell.

 

[LadyRoy]

It is ILLEGAL for them to penalise you for taking time off due to pregnancy related issues. Get one of those employment solicitors that gives you an hours free consultation and take some advice NOW. How dare they speak to you like that. I would suggest you have a very good case for constructive dismissal now!

You poor poor thing I really hope you get this sorted. This stress can't be good for you or bubs x

 

[My_First]

Hun - I understand what you are saying, but what they are doing, policies or no polices is against the law. They cannot stipulate how many days off sick you have, and in all honesty most 'larger' organisation investigate why people are off sick even if it is just for one day for absence records. What they are doing, I repeat, is illegal. Sickness is not at a managers descretion, there are legal rules in place in order to stop exactly what is happening to you.

But of course it is totally your decision, but worth giving it some though.

 

[babysimpson]

Since the official complaint last year, my boss has been very careful of what they say to me as they know that if they attmept to go to the extent they did before that I will just complain again. At the time, the union said I could take them up for it but said it would be a waste of time without hard evidence as of course with my boss having done this is others before, they always made sure nobody was in ear shot.

It really isn't worth the stress and so long as I keep my head down they shold leave me be. It is a large organisation but very badly managed and there are things that happen that are unbelievable and sackable but get covered up on a daily basis.

It's almost a year since that complaint and I've had no problems and only been off for 1 day due to the kidney infection I had at the start of pregnancy which left me unable to get out of bed. I've also moved to a different area of the building which is more secluded so nobody checks up on me. Will be interesting when I do tell as my office is more like a dumping ground for other people lol. They will have to change it all for health and safety hehe. I'll enjoy it when that happens.

 

[munchykins]

It is ILLEGAL for them to discrimate against you for ANY illness related to your pregnancy. As somebody mentioned earlier, i would visit a solicitor for legal advice. Personally i think unions do not always work in the employees favour

 

[Ajisai]

It seems like you took appropriate actions but it was futile. I'm really curious to know what else to do for this situation. Talk to a lawyer? Sue the company? Burn bridges and spend your own money and time to fight? Even though it is illegal for companies to discriminate, the reality is that it exists. My profession is also very old fashion and women are discriminated. I just suck it up. I cannot fight every battle.
Best of luck to you. Make sure you get doctor's note if you need to take time off from work.

 

[babysimpson]

I had doctor's sick lines for every time I was off but like you say Ajisai no matter wherther there are policies in place, it does happen and does get covered up. For me to take it further, I would have had to go through employment tribunal and maybe even to court only for it to be kicked out for lack of evidence. I did think about it carefully and tried to get it sorted with the least disruption. It didn't work and if I had taken it further I would have ended up with no job in the end or would have had that much tensions to deal with that I'd have left. This has happened to other empoyees and they ended up leaving after taking it as far as they could because it was a losing battle.

So far things are fine so i don't want to rock the boat. If all goes well in the pregnancy I have 7 months left before leave. i've had to deal with a lot worse than a boss being a prat.