HELP!!! Agency worker to permanent employee

[starzy]

Hi ladies hoping so much someone can help me!!! I have only just found out I'm 4 weeks pregnant and I'm an Agency worker on a placement however I've been told I'm likely to be given a permanent job with the organisation I'm working for once my contract ends on 31 October 2014.
I've done all the Maternity Pay calculators and it looks like I won't be entitled to statutory maternity pay AT ALL either from the Agency I'm currently with or from the organisation I'm working for once they employ me directly. It seems so unfair as I have been in this job for 6 months and nothing is going to change when my contract changes I will be doing the same job, same hours same pay... just that my contract will now be with the organisation rather than with the Agency.
Does anyone know anything about this? If I took this up with the HR dept when I apply for maternity leave do you think it would go anywhere? I feel like by all moral laws I should be entitled to maternity pay as I will have been doing the job for a year by the time I take maternity leave but it is just this stupid contract thing!
Any help I would be very grateful or anyone who has experienced the same thing or similar?
Thanks ladies xx

[ClaireZest]

Hi starzy

That is pants!

Afraid to qualify for SMP you have to have been with the employer from the very start of your pregnancy (and be earning more than £111 per week at the qualifying week). This won't be the case if you are moving from the agency to the company you're on the placement with as it's classed as two separate employments.

Have you spoken to the agency and the company about this? Is there anyway your contract can be switched over and dated from 4 weeks ago? It's unlikely but they might be able to come to some kind of agreement.

You should qualify for Maternity Allowance though. Have a look at //www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/maternity-allowance

Please feel free to drop me a DM. :0)

[starzy]

Thanks so much for the response! That is all I can do i guess is just ask and see what they say.
Yes I think I am eligible for Maternity Allowance so that is a back-up but it won't pay the bills/rent which Statutory Maternity Pay would - at least for the first 2 months after the birth.
Thanks for the help I really appreciate it I am worrying about this :( xx

[kikisunflower]

Yes but at least once you are made permanent you will have a job to go back to which is the silver lining