Hi there,

I would need an additional information on high risk pregnancy with regards to early maternity leave. How does it function here? In which week of one`s pregnancy can one go in early maternity leave?
Please share your experience, knowledge etc.
Many thanks!

You need to check with your company as HR policies may vary depending on the time they give you.

In most cases you can get a Drs note which will excuse you from working, but depending on their policy and if they give you more than the legal time it might mean you have to start your leave early. In any case you would still have your 14 weeks after the baby is born.

If you need to start your leave more than 60 days before the date of birth they can take away some of your holiday days.

The best is to ask your HR department as no one here can answer for sure.

Congrats and good luck!

__________________
"What we have is no where as useful as the wheel. We keep reinventing the piece of rock that is still square"

You will not go on maternity early, your OB/GYN will likely sign you off sick before the delivery.

What job do you do and who has classified you as at risk?

It really does depend on the company and their policy.



Case in point, my employer gives 6 months. If your Dr signs you out for more than 5 days in the 60 day period before your due date, you have to start your leave early. No matter what you still get the legal 14 weeks they give you, but you can't have your Dr write you out 6 weeks beforehand and then take your 6 months leave. Maybe I should have been more clear in my post, but some companies will not accept a sick note or reduction in work note.

Edit - after thought: if your company has a policy like the above, and gives more time than 14 weeks, it's possible you won't need a note. Like at my company, you can choose to take your leave up to 60 days before your due date if you want.

__________________
"What we have is no where as useful as the wheel. We keep reinventing the piece of rock that is still square"

Thank you very much! My company gives maternity leave for 6 months. I will check with HR about early maternity leave.

I have a very different opinion. I suggest you ask you Doctor, not your Company. Your Doctor will issue a certificate stating that you should stop working, if it is necessary due to your pregnancy. You will be on a sick leave.

This is not linked to the maternity leave, which begins on the day your child will be born.

The issue is then - will you get paid during the sick leave? For that question, the answer is more complex - do refer to your work contract, and your HR. The Swiss law is not very generous and salary can be reduce or even suspended during sick leave.

Pierre BAYENET

I agree with the above poster, I was in a similar situation last year, at 28 weeks my doctor asked me to reduce to 50% and by 32nd week she asked me to stop working as I had to be on bed rest.

Both the cases she gave me a letter and I sent in the same to the HR, in my case the company had a insurance with AXA Winterthur, after the paper work was processed I was paid 70% as was the agreement until the little one was born. From the day he was born my maternity leave started.

Helps to read your contract and ask what your company's sick leave policy is. It also helped that I sort of knew that I would be written off ahead and planned my work accordingly in terms of documentation and handover document.

I agree. By law, the maternity leave starts on the day of delivery. Anything before that is sick leave.

I used to get really hacked off with people taking sick leave when pregnant. My opinion used to be that you mostly choose to get pregnant so get on with it. I did that with my daughter and couldn't understand why others didn't have the same attitude......until now.

I have been on 50% since 24 weeks and now 100% since 33 weeks. Thankfully my employer is paying me 100% for which I am very thankful.

I will never judge pregnant women again. Sometimes your body just can't cope and sick leave is the only option.

Good luck to all the pregnant mummy's out there and I hope you have as good an employer as me. I count my blessings every day for my HR dept and my understanding boss!