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Posted by: Anon for this | 2012/05/15

Q. Law question

Who can help me?

I have a huge debate at work now as I enquired about our maternity leave perks.

Is it legally allowed to take sick leave during your maternity leave?

According to law you are not allowed to return to work before 6 weeks after labor. And the law says you can take 4 months maternity leave but your employer is not obliged to pay you. Our company only pays one month maternity leave, the rest is either unpaid or you can claim from UIF (which basically pays about nothing).

Now if you gave labor, that is a medical condition right? So why can''t you take sick leave (if you have available?)

user comments

Posted by: Aims | 2012/05/21

I gather you want to take sick leave & maternity leave to make up partially the 4 months? Sorry to say, but you can''t take sick leave. The only time will be if you really sick and have a doctor''s certificate to proof you''re sick!. I was hospitilized while 8 months pregnant and that was under sick leave.
Ah, shame, 1 month is very little. Claim UIF, it ''s little but better then nothing! I''m sure your HR would be able to assist with claiming UIF? With my 1st pregnancy I had to claim UIF and my company assisted.
Good luck and enjoy your pregnancy

Aims

Reply to Aims

Posted by: Nini | 2012/05/17

I have never heard that you cannot take sick leave during pregnancy? That is nonsense man. If you have sick leave, and you are sick (regardless of your condition) and you get booked off by a doctor then it counts as sick leave - so long as you have days available.

Reply to Nini