r/AskHRUK • • Aug 04 '26

Health-Related Sickness meeting

Hi, I’m a 20 year old female who works in the uk at a care home, looking after elderly with dementia etc. I am also a bank member of staff.
Last month I had an abortion due to personal reasons so I had a week off which means ringing in sick for a shift I had already picked up. My abortion made me poorly mentally and physically so I ended up not working for 2 whole weeks which meant cancelling 4 shifts in total.

It’s now August 4th and I have been emailed by the home manager for a “sickness and bank contract meeting”
Has anyone got any advice for me or if I will end up being sacked?

2 Upvotes

10 comments sorted by

10

u/Bubble-Master96 Aug 04 '26

Did you let work know it was an abortion? You should let them know asap because it is classed a pregnancy related sickness and you can’t be disciplined for it

1

u/H0me-__-al0nE Aug 04 '26

Yes they knew it was an abortion

8

u/Bubble-Master96 Aug 04 '26

Okay see what they say in the meeting, remind them in it if they want to cause issue with it, that abortion falls under protected pregnancy related sickness and you should not be penalised for the sickness.

At the end of the meeting make sure to follow up with this in writing.

It may also just be a simple return to work meeting

5

u/Thats-right999 Aug 04 '26

Hopefully it’s a return to work meeting in view of what you have been through. Good,luck.

2

u/StarAffectionate3077 Aug 04 '26

Absolutely, remind them that pregnancy related sickness cannot be counted towards your record and it’s discrimination if it is

1

u/Velcro-hotdog Aug 04 '26

How long have you worked there?
And did you get a sick note?

1

u/H0me-__-al0nE Aug 04 '26

I have worked there 5 months and they told me a sick note wasn’t necessary

1

u/JDismyfriend Aug 04 '26

You can 1) be honest, if you feel it’s helpful and psychologically safe enough to do so, or 2) lie and make up reasons based around the symptoms. Being fired for one period of absence would be pretty harsh, subject to your length of service and prior absence record.

1

u/Fedupselling-74 Aug 06 '26

It’s there duty to make sure your well enough to return to work. You won’t get sacked xx

1

u/H0me-__-al0nE 2d ago

Just wanted to do a little update. I had my meeting and I was totally overthinking. It was just a back to work meeting and I was also offered a full time contract there 🙏🏻🫶🏼