I am currently on secondment with another local authority until the 21 April.
Both my original local authority (B) and current local authority (W) agreed to extend my secondment to the 21 October. I have email confirmation that all three of us were happy with the extension. W issued a revised secondment agreement and sent it to B. I was waiting for B to sign it and then W and myself would sign it.
At my 1-2-1 with W today he said not to wait for B and to just sign the contract which I have done today. However, at the end of the meeting I also advised W that I am 12 weeks pregnant with twins. He was nice about it and congratulated me but also asked when I plan to leave. I said it would be sometime in June given that it is a multiple pregnancy.
W said that he will have to seek HR advice but he may now look to reissue the contract only until the 21 June so that I do not go on maternity leave during my secondment contract. He said that B would be in charge of organising my maternity leave and pay and that W would not be reimbursed for any of this if I was on maternity leave whilst on secondment.
I am kicking myself for waiting for B to sign the contract first and not having done it a couple of weeks ago when it was first issued. I wanted to advice W of my pregnancy because it has already started to become obvious and I did not want to lie about imminent hospital appointments. Basically, I was too honest.
My questions are:
- despite having verbal and email agreement for the extension to my secondment can it be retracted because it is not signed by B and W and then reissued?
- given that the potential reissue of the contract is due to me being pregnant is this discrimination against me and therefore illegal?
I have done a bit of research and I think that I cannot be overlooked for a contract or an opportunity if I am pregnant and that was the reason for me not being considered.
Help!!