Given my notice by boss today - 16 weeks pregnant.

[Joydgreen88]

Today, after a normal shift at work my boss asked me to sit down. He told me he was giving me my two week notice "as I'm sure you know why." He then went on to say how much the other staff like me, however there are a few issues and he had to let me go, personality being stated as one of the reasons.

Yesterday, I told him I was pregnant. I have had no formal or informal chats about conduct, he has never mentioned anything unsatisfactory, a couple of things he'd like me to do differently, but nothing major. In fact, last week he offered me a slight pay rise as he was so happy with how I was getting on.

I'm obviously incredibly worried and panicking about how I'm going to find another job when pregnant, but where do I go from here? I can't quite believe he would be so stupid as to fire someone the day after announcing a pregnancy. Any and all advice will be much appreciated.

[99percentchocolate]

What an absolute fucking idiot he is. Take it to tribunal. Are you a member of a Union? Does he have a higher up boss?
Spend the next two weeks collecting all evidence you have that he was previously happy and if you told him about your pregnancy in writing then get a copy of that too.
After you've done all of that, sit back and wait for the cheque to come your way.

[DownWithThisSortaThing]

Crikey, that is awful, poor you how long have you been in the job? I dont know the laws etc but I'm sure someone will be along soon to give you some good advice. Try not to panic it will be ok.

[99percentchocolate]

(Should say, I'm not legally qualified, sorry!)

[redhat]

I'm an employment lawyer. You will be able to bring a claim if you've been dismissed for being pregnant. PM me if you need assistance and I might be able to help or point you in the right direction.

[Poptart27]

Seek legal advice.

[StealthPolarBear]

Good luck op

[StealthPolarBear]

Surely this seems fairly open and shut to me.

[NapoleonsNose]

What a wanker! YY to collecting as much evidence as you can in the next two weeks. I had a twat of an employer who did a similar thing to me when I was pregnant with DC2. It was harder to prove as I was doing a job share with my sil and he got rid of both of us. They argued it wasn't due to my pregnancy, althougn it so obviously was. Took the bastard to a tribunal and ended up settling out of court in the end. I loathe employers like that now. If you can sue his arse off, do!

If you are a member of a union get in touch with them. If not, try and find an CAB with an employment law specialist.

[Hawkmoth]

Bastard. Take him to the fucking cleaners.

[JustHereForThePooStories]

Lawyer up. Fast.

[DreamingofItaly]

PM redhat as offered above!! Long as you've been there long enough you've got a case!!

Good luck OP. Go get that woman irresponsible arse!!

[johendy]

Shocking. Check out ACAS. m.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=5271

And take up Redhat's kind offer.

[Joydgreen88]

Thank you all so much. I'm going past being shocked and more furious now. I will spend this evening making notes of everything I think is relevant.

I've only been there 6 weeks or so though, although haven't signed any type of contract, how will this affect where I go from here?

Redhat thank you so much, will pm you now.

[Letseatgrandma]

I don't think you have many employment rights until you've been there for 2 years. My brother was sacked from a job after 23 months after being screamed at by a horribly incompetent and backstabbing boss. Citizens advice and his union both said the boss was 100% in the wrong but they could do what they wanted if you hadn't been there for 2 years.

[Joydgreen88]

So he's totally within his right to do this? I'm not even fussed about compensation, just wether he is actually able to do this.

[jellybellydancer]

No letsseat it's different if you're pregnant. Direct discrimination and therefore the 2 years isn't valid in this instance.

[StealthPolarBear]

Yoy cab be fired before two years for any reason as long as it isn't discriminatory

[Gazelda]

Gather all evidence and get legal support. Good luck OP.

[prh47bridge]

You will get some good advice on the employment issues Mumsnet board.

As others have said, you can be sacked within your first two years with a company for any reason as long as it is not discriminatory. Sacking you because you are pregnant, which appears to be what has happened, is discriminatory. The fact you were offered a pay rise last week and are now being sacked the day after you told your boss you are pregnant seems pretty conclusive to me, especially if the offer was in writing. It will be hard for them to justify this as a sacking on performance grounds so soon after offering a rise.

[Joydgreen88]

He also told me a couple of weeks ago that he was considering not employing me when I applied due to my age and as "pregnancy costs small businesses so much" and that he was going to employ someone who had already had their kids. I told my work colleague about that incident also.

[redhat]

There is no qualifying service for a claim of discrimination. You can bring a claim from day 1 (or in fact even before you start a job).

I will PM you back OP.

[panegyricS1]

Good luck OP! I reckon they'll settle with you out of court, and this guy will get into trouble with his boss/the company's lawyer due to his foolishness. Win win!