Hi,
I have been working at the same NGO for the past 2 and half years. I am now pregnant with twins and since last month, was given a medical certificate by my doctor saying that I should not work at all. My boss and I have now reached an agreement where I work fully from home and I get paid my salary which is being paid by the assurance maternité.

But what I'm wondering is, do i have to work at all if I have been given a medical certificate or does being given a medical mean I have to go on no pay leave? I know that there is no parental leave (leave before having a baby) in Switzerland so I guess that I can only take the sick leave allocated to me. Is that correct or can I take unlimited sick leave because of the medical certificate?

Thanks for any advice.

Simple answer, no you don't have to work. The medical certificate you received from your doctor entitles you to sick leave up till you give birth (up to 100% if so stated) but doesn't count against your maternity leave which would then come after the birth.

Thanks Paul. that's great. Is there an official website with this info so that I can point this out to my boss?

You don't have to point anything out to your boss because he is the boss and is suppose to know the law. The medical certificate should have a date on it declaring what day you are suppose to be off work. Be sure to take note if it states anything less than 100%, if it says (for example) 50% then you still have to work half days until your doctor says otherwise. My X had a month or so of 50% then in her 8th month the doctor increased it to 100%.

Thanks Paul. I know my boss is very crafty in that way but it's my fault as well for not knowing.
Many thanks.

It does not sound like the kind of place you want to work at if your boss is such a shyster.

Cheers,
Nick

If your company has an extended maternity leave policy ie longer than the compulsory 14 weeks, then they can make you take some of your time off before the birth as part of your maternity leave.

I'm off 100% sick now and 37 weeks pregnant. I log onto work, check my emails, and do anything that is urgent.

If I was very early into the pregnancy, then I would just work a little and do my duties from home. I would try to not tell my work that I was pregnant until I knew for sure things were going well after 14 weeks.

Too true! I intend on looking out for a new position while on maternity leave.
Thanks everyone.

I am now 35 weeks pregnant. At 32 wks, was given a medical for 50% off at which my boss suggested that I work 3 days from home and 2 from office. At 33 wks, my doc said it is too risky and gave me 100% off which is when boss said to work fully from home.

I feel very let down as I always felt that she and I have a relationship that goes beyond the employer/employee one which is why I totally trusted her.
Stupid me....this is a good lesson for me to make sure I know my rights no matter what and where the situation.

If your doctor has signed you off as unfit to work you should adhere to that. I was signed off from 32 weeks and I asked my doctor if I was able to work a bit from home (emails, reports and other computer jobs). She looked at me sternly and asked me what was important to me - the job or the baby.

She said "off sick is off sick."

I was in a very similar situation. I was given a Dr cert for 100% after 28 weeks (she said that was the normal time to stop working with twins) and that was to be sick leave up until 2 weeks before the birth when maternity leave starts. I had a month off from 16-20 weeks and have been on 50% since 20 weeks due to complications and none of it will affect my maternity leave. (I'm very gratefull for unlimited sick leave here!!!!) I would agree, you don't have to do ANY work.
Good luck, by the way!

Well done! - you are almost in the safe zone. Lay down at home and tell your boss that you need a couple of weeks until it is safe for your babies to arrive.