thread: fit to work letter from doc?

  1. #1
    Registered User

    Oct 2008
    Canning Vale, Perth
    1,318

    Question fit to work letter from doc?

    Hi all,

    Im 30 wks pg this week and have been working part time at my job for about 10 months. Im not elegible for maternity leave but they are happy to take me back in a year or two when I retur to work.

    Anyway, im planning on working til 35 or 36 weeks, my boss has said I need a letter of being fit to work from my doc...I was under the impression you only had to provide one if you want to work after 36 weeks pg?

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Jan 2009
    hiding under my desk!
    1,432

    if you are about to be 12 months or have been working there for 12 months at due date you are entitled to mat leave.

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Dec 2006
    In my own private paradise
    15,272

    every job is different - but in general, maternity leave (or ceasing work sue to pregnancy) happens at around 34 weeks, and to cover them for allowing you to work beyond that, they need for you to provide a letter from your doctor. prior to that, you should be fine

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Dec 2006
    Melbourne
    3,737

    I had to give my workplace a letter every month from about 32 weeks, so I just got one at each checkup. Its not like it was work that put me at risk, just office work but it was their policy.

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Jul 2007
    in a super happy place!
    1,008

    I had to give one at my old work from 32 weeks I think. It was to cover them if anything went wrong I think. I worked until 36 wks.

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Mar 2007
    outer South East Melbourne
    2,881

    I worked right up to 37 weeks & was never asked for one. I work for a large well known company that has loads of policies but that wasn't one of them.

  7. #7
    Registered User

    Oct 2004
    Sydney
    2,614

    My employer when I was pregnant was a massive compnay, and they wanted me to provide a "fit to work" letter from my doctor/midwife if I wanted to work after 34 weeks. I ended up just going to my GP and asking for it. He just asked me when I wanted to work until and he put some really vague date like "end of february", lol. My work accepted it and all was good. I'd just get the letter to keep them happy. You dont want them making your life diffcult right now. As long as your healthy you wont have a problem getting a letter to say so. Maybe check with your HR department or Industrial Relations in your state if it seems a bit dodgy.

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Nov 2008
    60

    My work requires a letter for working after 34 weeks.

    So say you get a letter covering you to 38 weeks, if something happens in your pregnancy that requires you to stop earlier (eg. Pre-E), you can utilise sick leave rather than precious mat leave. Mat leave must start when you give birth however, so if you give birth early, your mat leave kicks in, regardless of what your "fit to work" letter says.

  9. #9
    Platinum Member. Love a friend xxx

    Mar 2008
    Perth, WA
    1,225

    My work requires one if I am to work past 25 weeks! Nuts!

    But yeah...every place is different.

  10. #10
    Registered User

    Jan 2008
    Central Coast NSW
    2,160

    I'm a teacher in the publoc sys in NSW and I can work up till my due date - my mat leave must start on that date. I plan working till 38+1 (end of term 2) and noone has questioned this.