Lost my job. Baby due in August.[sad]

[McSnail]

Just found out about an hour ago. Really want to go home (typing this from work)
Need to cal HR and find out where this leaves me re maternity pay etc.

Fuck. Anyone else been in this situation? Any advice?

[McSnail]

Sorry - for some reason the emoticon didn't come up properly. That should read and

[digitalgirl]

Sorry to hear that McSnail. Worth calling the jobcentre to fill out some forms as you should still be entitled to Maternity Allowance which is the same as statutory Maternity Pay.

[Catz]

Sorry to hear your news. Assuming you've been working for at least 6 months you will be entitled to maternity allowance here which is just the standard SMP amount (about £123 a week) for 9 months but much better than nothing. You can apply for this to start from about 29 weeks pg I think so you could apply ASAP if that would be a help.

Hope that HR can give you better news.

[Catz]

cross posts digital girl

[puffylovett]

the qualifying period for SMP would be the 8 weeks between March and May for you I think, which means they will still have to pay you the statutory minimum of 90% for 6 weeks then the £123 per week.

Really sorry to hear your news. What a shit situation for you

[trixymalixy]

Hi, I'm in the same situation, I'm due on the 2nd of August and will be made redundant when i go on mat leave in 3 weeks time.

You should be entitled to SMP, not sure about any enhanced mat pay.

Do you think there has been any discrimination and you losing your job has anything to do with being pregnant?

You should come and join us on the August antenatal thread.

[McSnail]

Thanks for the replies and advice - much appreciated. I've come home and am about to make some calls to HR. Wish me luck!

Will also pop onto the Aug. ante-natal thread.

[McSnail]

Hi - I don't think the process was particularly fair. I feel my contract hasn't been renewed because they don't want to pay maternity leave (even though I work for the council - there have been huge financial cuts in my department)
I contacted HR, and they told me that although I will still be paid mat pay for one of my jobs (i have two jobs within the council) I am not entitled to Mat. pay for the job where my contract has been terminated. I'm so angry - will be making an appt at CAB as soon as possible. To give me 25 days notice, when I'm over seven months pregnant, in my book is VERY unfair. They've known they'd have to get rid of staff for ages, but have waited until this late stage to bump me.

Am now frantically applying for jobs which I know I probably won't get as they all start in the month I'm due to give birth (I'm a teacher, due in August)

[McSnail]

BTW - the job I have lost isn't a teaching job, but it IS in Education. My other job is one day a week, teaching.

[puffylovett]

It's a nightmare, isn't it. No-one in their right mind is likely to take on a pregnant woman, despite employment law (am in a rocky situation myself, 6 mths pg)

It doesn't sound reasonable at all to me, let us know what CAB say...

[Dulciedot]

If you think that the reason for your dismissal is related to your pregnancy check if you have legal insurance on your home contents insurance. If you do, you have the right to choose your own solicitor, not your insurance coy, and find a lawyer who specialises in sex discrimination law.