Any HR qualified mamas?

I work for the NHS and I’ve been off with pregnancy related illnesses quite a lot since I fell pregnant mostly sickness dizziness etc. I have been asked to attend a meeting a stage 1 absence meeting which my boss says it’s very informal as im Pregnant and won’t go anywhere but when I’m reading the nhs Scot policy on absence management it says pregnancy illnesses don’t trigger a stage 1 meeting in the first place Can anyone advise?

Show your support

No matter if they’re saying it’s informal, please take someone with you, either from union/ just someone there as a representative to support YOU! X

I deal with HR at work and your protected so Im not sure they should be doing this.

As said above take someone with you and ask for the procedure in full and policy on why this triggered said meeting The only way it might trigger it is to see what they can do for you to support but not to monitor the absence

My mum works for NHS too and she works in the complaints team. If you want to file a complaint about this you can contact PALS in the NHS. The one thing they will want to avoid is to cause you any stress especially as stress can harm pregnancies. If I were you, I would get signed off work by your doctor and get a FIT NOTE. This will cover you for the days you are off and you can claim work stress via your doctor too if they are now causing you worry. Hope that helps.

I swear pregnancy related absence is totally separate to normal sickness absence and doesn't count like you say towards these meetings (I work in NHS)

Thanks for the advice I will ask the union rep to come in with me and yes the majority of these absences I’ve had a gp line for sickness. I have never had a risk assessment since I told them I was pregnant and I’ve had a generic letter about a stage 1 absence meeting given to me it does feel like they’ve made a mistake.

Hello, I work for the nhs in NI. Pregnancy related sickness can not trigger any meetings. I would contact your union now and ask them to communicate with your employer and outline that given all sickness has been pregnancy related then it’s their understanding that this meeting should not be triggered

Thank you Alice I’ll do that now

I work in the NHS and I’ve also had alot of time off due to pregnancy illness but my managers have said not to worry about it as it doesn’t trigger anything in the absence policy when it’s pregnancy related, I would check its definitely correct before putting yourself through a meeting

I contacted my HR department and the union who confirmed that this isn’t correct. I emailed my manager and I’m hoping she cancels the meeting.

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