Lost my baby due to circumstances at work - Can I claim? Help please!

[Nafretiri]

When I was 9 weeks pregnant I was having some terrible sickness as most of you who read my previous posts will know.

I couldn't eat or drink anything without being sick.

One day at work I felt as though I was going to pass out. When I asked to go home they postponed it as much as they could. (I work in sales and it's more important to them to keep the figures up)

They evaded my requests and told me I'd be okay and to keep working. When I repeatedly told them I needed to go home two managers in perticular said things like "Ohhh, you don't need to go home!" - "Go for your break you'll feel better" - And another one when I asked he walked off to serve a customer and said he'd come back to me, then never.

I told them I needed to ring the doctors. One of them said they didn't doubt that I needed to see a doctor, but could I go later when my shift finished?

I said I need to go now, reluctantly she said I could ring the doctors, if I got an appointment I could go to it but I must 'try and come back' afterwards.

I called the doctors at 2:30pm and made an appointment for 4pm. When I told her I'd got in she said "What's the latest you have to leave?"

I explained I had to allow for my bus journey and said I needed to leave at 3pm at the latest. She let me go but yet again asked me to come back when I'd been.

I went to the doctor and he perscribed me with some medicine called Domperidone which is used in pregnancy for exactly this.

I got home and called work to say I wasn't coming back in as he'd signed me off work for a few days because I really needed to take it steady. When I told the manager exactly this he said "It's okay I didn't expect you to come back anyway." (!) And to get someone to drop in my sick note.

When you're pregnant and working you do not lose any money for pregnancy related sick time off, and despite I had my doctors note for proof, they still took £91 off my wages which has put me out for the month.

It got to my 12 week scan and we saw the baby on the screen, she said "I'm sorry, there's no heartbeat"

I lost the baby at 9 weeks.

The same time they made me stay and work as ill as I felt.

I had my controlled miscarriage in hospital earlier today and was in there for 8 hours.

Could I possibly have a case here? I know it won't bring my baby back. But I'm heartbroken, traumatised and I just want justice.


Thanks for reading and any advice is appreciated.

 

[T'elle]

So sorry for your loss hun

Not sure if your in the uk but its definitely worth giving citizens advice a call/email.
They will give you all the help and advice they can on how you can go about putting in a claim if they think you have a case. Good luck hun, sorry for your loss and im here if u need to talk xxx

 

[lauraperrysan]

sorry to hear of your loss, loosing a baby is heartbreaking which no one should have to go through. I personally think it would be unlikely to be a good case on your side. As unfair and wrong as they sound to proove it is another thing and to blame their actions for the loss of your baby is near impossible. Sorry but i didn't want to give you false hope. I'm studying law at the moment as have a rough idea but i could be wrong so def ring citizens advice and talk to them. And about the money side of it you should be able to claim this back. If work do not pay you sick pay they do not have to pay you when the dr has signed you off, they only have to cover appointments for check up's. But you should be able to claim it from the state for SSP.
Hugs for you xxx

 

[x_Rainbow_x]

im sorry for your loss but itl be a tough case, you have a case against them treating you badly but you cant prove your m/c was due to work, it could have been due to other factors and you have to have proof from things like that in order for it to stand up if it was ever taken to court, they can fight its medical issues and you was allowed to go to the doctors.
You can ring and ask but i think itl be a very hard case tbh
x

 

[polo_princess]

Im sorry for your loss

I was under the impression that you arent entitled to paid time off for sickness during pregnancy, you have to take it unpaid once you have used all of your paid time off. They do however have to pay you for scheduled dr/mw/hospital appointments.

I would try and speak to someone at CAB as already been suggested hun

 

[beaney]

I'm so sorry to hear what happened to you. I think as others have said it would be an unlikely case to win due to proof, or even reasonable doubt, because of the difficulties proving why a miscarriage happened - most of us here have no answers to why our own happened. Plus, they could deny what was said to you and it would be your word against theirs. As another said, they would point out that you were allowed to go to a medical professional. I also agree that you should be able to claim the money back that you lost.

Aside from the legal issues, wanting to find fault with what has happened to you is an entirely natural part of the grieving process. I'm sure most people who go through miscarriages want answers about what happened and why.

Again you have my deepest sincere sympathies about what you have experienced. It does get easier, so perhaps now take time to come to terms with what has happened and hopefully this stage of grief will soon pass so that you can concentrate on getting back your physical and emotional health. Take care.

 

[borntobeamum]

OH sweety, im so sorry for your loss.

I would agree with the ladies above im afraid, I doubt you would have a case regarding the loss of your angel. However they way they treated you about leaving work is horrible.

Can I ask, did they know you were expecting? Depending where you work, possibly the only way you could go is raising it to any people and culture department and making a complaint about your managers, more on the way they treat people who say they are ill than anything.

Sorry.

Lx

 

[Nafretiri]

OH sweety, im so sorry for your loss.

I would agree with the ladies above im afraid, I doubt you would have a case regarding the loss of your angel. However they way they treated you about leaving work is horrible.

Can I ask, did they know you were expecting? Depending where you work, possibly the only way you could go is raising it to any people and culture department and making a complaint about your managers, more on the way they treat people who say they are ill than anything.

Sorry.

Lx

Yes they knew I was expecting. And in my company you don't lose money for pregnancy related illness aslong as you can prove that's what it was. Hence the doctors note.

 

[Dixielane]

OH sweety, im so sorry for your loss.

I would agree with the ladies above im afraid, I doubt you would have a case regarding the loss of your angel. However they way they treated you about leaving work is horrible.

Can I ask, did they know you were expecting? Depending where you work, possibly the only way you could go is raising it to any people and culture department and making a complaint about your managers, more on the way they treat people who say they are ill than anything.

Sorry.

Lx

I dont have much to add except to the OP, I am sorry you are going through this. Bless you.

edit: i went ahead and deleted my msg, i somehow posted within [quotes] and it all got messed up

 

[littledemonme]

I am so sorry for your very sad loss and the trauma you are going through.
I have to ask - where on earth do you work???? What a bunch of cretins.
As to your case, if you are legally employed you are legally entitled to statutory sick pay - pregnant or not.
As for taking it further, if you are in the "these things just happen we don't know why" club, I think you may cause yourself more emotional and financial stress but definitely seek advice.
Thinking of you

 

[soulsister]

Hi

I am so sorry for your loss....

I dont know too much about this, but my hubby has his own business and knows just ow careful you have to be when dealing with pregnant woman....

I doubt you could ever prove that there actions (or lack of) caused you to miscarry, but I think they may be breaching some rules along the way......

Check out online and see exactly what time off you are entitled to as a pregnany employee i.e. time off for appointments etc, they should definitely be paying you statutory sick pay - have a good scout around and if you think you have a case, take if further....

I worked for a complete arsehole about 2 months ago, and the stress he caused me was unreal - I also miscarried, but I just walked out of his office shortly after finding out I was expecting....I doubt he had anything to do with my m/c...but I do know that the amount of stress they caused me cant have been good for me.....

I hope you get some resolution in all of this hon

Laura xx