Abortion

[ParticipantA]

Real life case!
If an employee tells one person in HR she’s planning to undergo an abortion yet asks for full confidentiality.... where does the HR person stand?

After all she is an expectant mother until the abortion takes place! Isn’t she?

No docs note had been provided yet!
Employee booked one day holiday for the day of the procedure.

If things go wrong or she’s unwell after the operation what does HR person involved do?

Any thoughts?

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Keeps quite on the matter
Allows day of as sick and the next day
Tells person to call in sick if any problems and send in sick note
Never ever mentions it again or make any written notes or comments
wish her all the best and maybe a bunch of flowers the next day

 

[Mr D]

It's possible the employee has the day off then works as normal. Different people react differently and some do soldier on.
Quite possible more than one person you have worked with has had it done without you noticing.

 

[ParticipantA]

Update on this!
Employee decided to tell her manager and company director about the situation so it’s no longer confidential.

However .....
Doctors are not sure if she’s actually pregnant as scan is only showing something but not clear if it’s a foetus as it’s too early.
Also she got her period so there is a chance it’s a miscarriage!

Bottom line is that she will have to attend numerous appointments over next few weeks. Some will fall during working hours!

Do we treat this as pregnancy related absence or pregnancy related sick?