MSE Pregnancy Club III

r.mac_2

oh Mrs Tine - ((((((((((((((((((((big hugs)))))))))))))))))))))) for you.

First of all - breath and smile (aparently this makes us feel better about things )

I agree that your company are skating on thin ice and TBH, IMO if they aren't prepared to compromise (from what you have said you are offering a good compromise to the problem) then I would get the Dr to write you a sick note for as long as you need it and not work from home or do them favours. You are right to wait and see what the official meeting minutes say though. Keep us posted.

Glad the Dr was understanding. The pills and gaviscon can't be nice, but at least they are helping - it'll all be worth it when your little bump is in your arms (so they tell me - back me up someone please )

My MS got better about 16wks and the 2nd trimester seemed to fly past quicker than the first - think those positive thoughts ((((hug))))

nicole136

My_Fathers_Daughter wrote: »

It means baby is getting comfortable




In fact - I used to get a pain in my right thigh when I was on my period - I still get this now (bizarre I know)
quote]

MFD: I get that!!! how wierd! It goes right down my R thigh bone feels painful and numb.! when I had an IUD it was much worse lasted for a week or so!

Mrs T :
sounds awful, do you not get sick pay? sounds like they are saying that you should just call in sick, How dare they expect you to work if you got a DRs note! they should just let you work from home, HR of all people should know your rights. Here's wishing and hoping for you that it passes.

Skinty:
what does your 21.06.08 mean on your sig? thats when I got married!!!

Thanks to all your kind words of support everyone today

MrsTinks

I only get full pay when off sick for another week and a bit (need to work it out properly... I get 30 days on full pay before it's statutory and I need to calculate how many I've actually had ) so yeah I can get signed off sick no problem (infact my doctor would probably be happier with me doing that! keeps telling me to take it easy!) but ultimately I don't want to as it will mean a lot less money, I don't need to as I can manage perfectly well if allowed to work from home, there is no actual need to be in the office - and on the occasions when I have ben needed in the office I have made it in - I've been able to plan it most times or allow myself enough recovery time afterwards.
What really bugs me is the one rule for me, another for my boss... I don't actually have an issue with having done work when I was off sick, because ultimately returning would have been infinitely harder as the client relationship would have been severely damaged, but for them to turn round and say I should call in sick and then not work (and "we wouldn't expect you to work if you're sick") was just so out of order that they've hung themselves on that one... I just get narked off when I work very hard and have worked hard to make sure that everyone else don't get burdened with even more work because I'm not well as we're already short staffed - and with no sight of an increase in headcount and no plans to get anyone else when I go on maternity leave goodness only knows what the future holds for the department... There is no way they can handle all my accounts between them when I'm off - One of them requires on site presence 2 days a week - that leaves 3 days a week (2 of which are usually taken up actioning stuff discussed during site visit) to handle the other accounts... including doing their reviews (monthly) overseeing any outages, complaints, gripes... you name it...

But I'll away the mail with baited breath... then I'll make a call to CAB or ACAS and see where I stand legally If they are discriminating they will know about it VERY quickly because they have really miffed me off today...

elle_gee

MrsTine, does your company actually have a remote working policy? And does what they're saying to you and what your boss does both stick to the policy?

Our company does but I wouldn't usually be allowed to work from home as I have a very face-to-face role (first port of call for queries, plus no-one knows where have the important stuff is in the dept - I often get phone calls during my holidays). There are some things I can do from home but it's probably only 30% of my job and you have to be able to do 80% to work from home unless you're off for post-op recovery. That said, I'd not exactly bothered as our sick pay is 13 weeks at full pay and 13 weeks at half pay, then SSP, so I'd be happy to sit at home watching Jeremy Kyle! (not that I hope to get sick enough that I have to stay off!).

ETA: This might help in the meantime: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Moneyandworkentitlements/WorkAndFamilies/Pregnancyandmaternityrights/DG_10026556

angela6834

MrsTine...thats awful...its a shame you're not paid for longer if you're off sick. Then I would just say to ask for a doctors note and not do any work while you're off.....as you're not paid im not sure what to suggest....

While im on can i just ask those of you that had an early scan at a EPAU....those that had an internal scan, where your OH's allowed in too?

Im seven weeks and not sure if they'll see baby through my stomach and wondered if i needed an internal scan, would my OH be allowed to stay?

elle_gee

angela, mine was allowed to stay

cazscoob

i had internal scan with my last pregnancy and my OH was allowed to stay in he held my hand the whole time well he sat there and i held on for fear of what they would say!

MrsTinks

elle_gee wrote: »

MrsTine, does your company actually have a remote working policy? And does what they're saying to you and what your boss does both stick to the policy?

Our company does but I wouldn't usually be allowed to work from home as I have a very face-to-face role (first port of call for queries, plus no-one knows where have the important stuff is in the dept - I often get phone calls during my holidays). There are some things I can do from home but it's probably only 30% of my job and you have to be able to do 80% to work from home unless you're off for post-op recovery. That said, I'd not exactly bothered as our sick pay is 13 weeks at full pay and 13 weeks at half pay, then SSP, so I'd be happy to sit at home watching Jeremy Kyle! (not that I hope to get sick enough that I have to stay off!).

ETA: This might help in the meantime: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Moneyandworkentitlements/WorkAndFamilies/Pregnancyandmaternityrights/DG_10026556

Technically we don't have a work from home policy - but I can easily do 95% if not more of my job from home. The only client facing stuff I do is on site - not in the office. I'm always available on the phone and e-mail (even have a blackberry to ensure that I can always access mail!) They have recognised that so long as I can go to the important meetings with the client then that part is ok. Even if I wasn't "sick" then I'd not be able to support 9 clients on a "face to face" basis - they are all over the country and I'd loose too much time travelling to actually do any work.

I'll double check my contract (which incidently they have "lost" my signed copy off so have sent me a new one to sign - not till I've read it to make sure it's the same one! Wouldn't be the first time a company has sent a new contract to an employee getting them to sign new terms because they got told it was the same contract - they'd just lost the old one...) to make sure, but I'm pretty certain it says nothing about working from home.

The silly thing is I CAN do all my duties from home - infact I get more done! So long as I am available to attend the monthly review for the main client. The only meeting I have cancelled was whilst I was actually IN hospital - and even there I was sneaking access to my blackberry to check mails naughty I know... I guess if I thought I was slacking at home or something then I'd feel that they were more justified in wanting me in the office, but I don't and my boss knows I don't so this is all coming from HR. My boss wouldn't want this all dragged up because she knows she works as much (well over all MORE) from home than I do... and she too should book sick days as when she can't come in the office she's actually so sick she can't work. I sympathise with her I really do, but I'm not going to be treated differently to her when infact they get as much work out of me working from home as they do from the office...

And whilst I was off sick I was generally available to anyone who needed to get a hold of me. And I know full well that unless I turn my phone off then that is what will happen whenever I am off sick - there is not enough bodies for there to be enough cover if I'm not available...

MrsTinks

PS elle thanks for the link... I think that as they have set a precedence with my boss then technically I am being treated unfairly because I am pregnant But I will speak to ACAS tomorrow to find out what they think. The stupid thing is I WANT to work - I don't really want them to suspend me even on full pay - I'd only be twiddling my thumbs and go nuts at home
But if they are going to play silly !!!!!!s then I'll get stubborn!

elle_gee

We have an individual contract letter, a company T&Cs booklet, plus about fifty other policies floating about. The remote working policy is one of the ones that applies to a lot more people than actually know about it - just watch they haven't done similar and introduced something but not rolled it out to all and you're caught out by it!