22weeks pregnant

[carliex]

im 22weeks pregnant i was working but becus i have a pubis dissfunction which means my pelvis has softend to much in pregnancy and have been in hospital 3 times since i found out i was pregnant i had a sicknote to say i can not lift at work but work made me keep lifting and said its not r fault ur pregnant my doctor signed me off completley but now work have decided not to pay me proply and i cant affored to wait for them to do it proply or get a solicitor so if i hand my notice in will i get any help with money or will they say i should not have handed my notice in? i dont no what to do i phoned the job centre and they were no help they just said u may get incapsitly untill the baby arrives but to find out if i can i have to put a cliam in which mean i have to say im not working but i am and i dont want to hand in my notice then be told i can get no help and same with income support i really really dont no what to do?

[missspeedy23]

They're supposed to do a risk assessment on your job if you do any sort of manual work so I think they're in the wrong. They should offer you light duties and they can only force you to start your maternity leave 11 weeks before you're due for medical reasons.

Do you get any enhanced sick pay at work or is it just SSP?

Have you spoke to your local citizens advice - they're the best people to speak to. I wouldn't hand my notice in as you wouldn't get your SMP, only maternity allowance.

[redcrx]

dont just quit your job!!!

If you are off sick then they cant just dismiss you either. http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/health_advice/facts /maternity_rights_000618.htm they have to adjust your job to accomodate the fact you are unable to lift things and if they cant they should suspend you on full pay.

Speak to Acas http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=13 42

[naflharrison]

omg do not quit your job under any circumstances!!!! as said previously they must by law do a risk assement and they cannot force you to do any lifting. my old job was exactly the sam when i was pregnant with my son and i left after my maternity leave was up i now wish i had got myself a solicitor and fought them on grounds of discrimination against me for being pregnant. please get youself to the citizens advice or better still see a solicitor asap ie. first thing in morning and get the ball rolling with a letter to start with about them breaking the law by not assessing the risks. trust me you may not want to get into a whole arguement about it with your employer but you also have to look at it this way, if you carry on working there without risk assesment your employer could potentially harm your unborn baby. that risk is not worth taking and you would get little to no help from the government as you would be leaving a job. stay put so you get the maternity pay that you are entitled to and get a solicitor involved pronto before they push it too far. youll be glad you did in the long run as if its not you that gets hurt while pregnant there it could be someone else coming that is there after you.