Were you allowed to use your sick leave?

[Jaycee]

When you went on maternity leave? Did you have to have a medical certificate to do so?

I was originally planning on working until 38 weeks but I am already starting to feel uncomfortable and will definitely not last another 12 weeks at work so thought I may leave around the 34 week mark.

I have 8 weeks sick leave and was wondering if this could be used before using my annual leave and starting maternity payments?

Any help would be appreciated!

[Pandora]

I could at my work, it depends on your work's policy.

[KimmyF]

at my work place you can as long as the doctor or midwife caring for you writes a medical certificate.

[Jaycee]

Did you have to have a certificate Pandora?

[~me~]

It depends on your workplace policy. We are required to leave at 34-35weeks. If I want to stay longer, I had to have a medical certificate saying I was fit to work, and If I had a pregnancy related illness in that time (35+) and still working I would not be allowed to use sick leave.
If I was sick prior to the 34-35wk mark I was allowed to use sick leave.

[JaCaMaDy]

Hi Jaycee,


I finished work at 35 weeks, and used all my sick leave & annual leave before commencing maternity leave, so did one of my co workers. I didn't need any med certificate and i definetly think its depends on your workplace's policies

[AJC]

I planned to work until 36 weeks but had to stop on Ob's orders at 30 weeks. I got paid sick leave for those 6 weeks. I work for a small business and have a good relationship with my boss so although I had a medical cert it wasn't a drama.

[Tuesday's Child]

I was required to start mat leave at 34 weeks and needed a certificate to state I was fit to work beyond that. If I was sick at any point while on mat leave, I could apply for sick leave, with a certificate, and have the mat leave returned.

[~Kim~]

Yep I had to take mine just after 30weeks and we needed a certificate for anything longer than 1 day off sick.
I also had to be careful the doctor didn't write due to pregnancy - it had to be specific, ie high blood pressure risk of abruption, hip pain etc otherwise the powers that be made you take your mat leave early instead.

[Frangipani]

I would think so too...probably (like others have said) as long as you have a medical certificate. I know we can at my work (though we do get unlimited paid sick leave) - I knew someone that was unable to work from 5 or 6months into her pregnancy - but just as long as her doctor gave her that certificate.

[Pandora]

I had to have a cert to stay past 36 weeks and could use sick leave up until that time. If it was <2 days at a time I didn't need a cert.