Can my employer change my maternity pay deal without informing me??

[basilbrush]

Could any legal eagles out there advise me??

With DS in 2006 I got half salary for 6 months as per the maternity deal in my permenant post contract.

Last month (just after I informed my employer I was pg), a tiny "announcement" was put on the staff intranet saying all female employees would henceforth get SMP.

However, I have had no official or individual notification of this change and some colleagues are suggesting that they can't do this without properly re- negotiating my conditions of employment.

Is this true??

Many thanks for any advice

[flowerybeanbag]

I'm in a rush but that doesn't sound good enough, see here about what an employer needs to do to change t&cs, back later.

[basilbrush]

PS am in Scotland which could complicate matters!

[flowerybeanbag]

nope, makes no difference

[flowerybeanbag]

basil did you have a read of the link? An employer can change terms and conditions of employment but must jump through certain hoops to do so, including consultation.

Do you have a union at work or any kind of staff association or other representative body?

[bitofadramaqueen]

hi basil - you're a teacher aren't you? I guess you must work in the independant sector as I suspect a local authority wouldn't get away with changing t&c's in such a haphazard way. Are you in the EIS or ATL or similar? I know that both of these unions have caseworkers that could advise you. Work in HR and married to a trade unionist - its an interesting combo... .

[basilbrush]

Hi Girls - yes, private school who laughs in the face of european legislation...my ex Dep Head (now retired) actually said to me to my face "I can't let you take on that extra course as you might get pregnant and it would be really inconvenient" !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Am in ATL and am going to contact them this week

[bitofadramaqueen]

good - give them a call. You know that ATL have an office is Scotland now? Give them a call tomorrow and I'm sure they can look into it for you.