How to tell tyrant boss I'm pregnant

[WaitingToFeelSomeWiggles]

So, a bit of background info to start off, I have an almost 2yo son and work full time. I've been in my job for around 7 months. It's a tiny business, there are 3 of us who work there, 1 of them being the MD.
As the owner of a small but very successful business he doesn't seem to think normal rules apply to him. Although he treats us really well in terms of pay/bonus etc, he has mentioned before that under no circumstances would he pay maternity pay/sick pay (I had to discharge myself from hospital and return to work 2 days after having my appendix out because he wouldn't pay me).
I understand there are laws in place and he doesn't really have a choice in the matter, but I'm worried he will try other things to get out of it (like making me redundant/sacking me).
I fully intend to return to work after my maternity leave.
I've not had my first scan yet, so am holding off telling anyone until then, but I'd be very grateful for any advice so I can be prepared for when the time comes.
Thanks in advance.

[Cariad007]

Have a look at www.gov.uk/working-when-pregnant-your-rights

You don't have to tell him til fifteen weeks before you are due and I think by law he will have to pay you SMP, which is six weeks at 90% pay and the remaining 32 weeks at whatever the current rate is, I think it's around £130 at the moment.

I also think that you don't have to pay back SMP so if I were you I'd spend my maternity leave looking for a new job as he sounds like a sexist git!

[FishWithABicycle]

What a git.

You have an absolute right to receive maternity pay and paid time off for ante natal appointments while pregnant. If he sacks you or makes you redundant after finding out you are pregnant then an employment tribunal will work on the assumption that it is a case of sexist wrongful dismissal.

However, he may get away with it anyway because an employee can be dismissed in the first 2 years of employment with no reason needing to be given, and you would have to pay a hefty fee to bring a wrongful dismissal case before a tribunal. Would you?

Dinosaurs like this will suffer for it because they will end up not being able to employ the best person for the job. I would spend your maternity leave seeking employment elsewhere, this git doesn't deserve you.

[WaitingToFeelSomeWiggles]

Thanks for the support ladies.

I think you're right, job hunting will be on the cards!

[OMC1]

What an awful man! Sorry to hear you're in this situation, it must take a little bit of the excitement away from you having to face this.

Cariad007 is right, check out that website and also give your Local Citizen's Advice Bureau a ring as they may be able to offer you some free advice.

If you can afford it, get a Solicitor on board too (I work at a law firm) but I appreciate this isn't an option for everyone as legal advice doesn't always come cheap, but having the weight of the law behind you might be the kick up the a**e this bloke needs!

[ShootTheMoon]

I'm a bit hazy on the details but I believe that for small business, HM Revenue & Customs pays the majority, if not all, of the cost of SMP - that was the case a few years ago when I was on mat leave, iirc. Do read up on the facts because he may react differently if it's not a direct cost to the business (not that he's not completely in the wrong with his attitude of course).

Good luck!

[Number3cometome]

Actually the two year rule does not apply if you have been discriminated against due to pregnancy.

[Notamumyet81]

I'm sure shootthemoon is right - smp is paid by the government, so wouldn't be coming from your bosses pocket. He'd claim it back through paying less in tax/national insurance or something, though they can forward the money on if those payments aren't enough to cover it (I remember reading into this a year of so ago as I was employed by my own company and wondered how I'd be able to pay myself maternity pay)!

I think a lot of small businesses don't like people going on maternity or sick leave because of the hassle of providing cover and training someone new up short term. But what are we meant to do as women? I purposefully left the place I was working that was making me contract through my own company (to avoid having to pay me sick leave, maternity, holiday pay etc) and got a job in the public sector prior to ttc because I couldn't have afforded the leave otherwise. Still scared of telling them I'm expecting though, which I need to do ASAP!

Good luck finding a new job while you're off

[Jaffakake]

Just make sure you are fully up to speed & correct with your legal rights. It may also be well received (or not!,) if you read up on things that he should do to protect his own back - like pregnancy risk assessments, and educate him on that.

But, yep try & find a new job.

I was made redundant after I got married by someone who'd named me as someone to get rid off. She'd bullied others whilst they were pregnant too & illegally made them withdraw from childcare vouchers to save the company money. I got a new job in the public sector (easier said than done now) as I knew my life would be less stressful working for a family friendly employer.

[rosedavo]

If he sacks u etc then u will have a legal case against him even if he says its not due to pregnancy. Even if he doesnt pay maternity pay u can claim smp

[natjayne213]

Hey.. I'm 6w4d and I work for a small business.. I know they have said in the past they will shut the business if I left. It sucks as I was made redundant and got nothing with my 1st child. I am thinking about going back after the minimum amount of maternity leave allowed. Who said being pregnant was a fun time xxx

[WaitingToFeelSomeWiggles]

Oh nat talk about guilt trip! That's a horrible position to be put in.
It is so infuriating that as women our work lives are so badly affected by our choice to have a family.
In my interview my boss even asked me if I was planning to have more children, I said no because I desperately wanted the job. Looking back I suppose I should have seen the warning signs at that point but I didn't realise how quickly the situation would arise.
Thank you for all the great advice. I will certainly be looking into joining a union before I make the announcement so I'll have some back up if it turns ugly.

[Annbag]

Maternity action is a fantastic website. I'd arm yourself with the facts from there.
You don't have to tell him until 25 weeks, if you can hide it that long! Although once you've told him you get paid time off for appointments. There are a lot of appointments and he sounds like an arse so I hope that goes ok.

[Cariad007]

It might be worth posting about this in the legal section too as I think there are a few solicitors who frequent that board.

[WaitingToFeelSomeWiggles]

Thanks cariad. I'll copy and paste it on there too! :-)

[natjayne213]

I know big guilt trip.. I went 29 weeks before I was told I was pregnant with my 1st... failed tests, I knew I felt different but the doc convinced me it was all in my head and that I had gallstones. So a bit of shock when I went in the end and told I was having a baby lol. So I had lost my job a week before finding out so I got no maternity leave and was forced back into work as I couldn't bare signing on every week. I said I wanted no more children.. but now she is nearly 7 I wanted too.. plus she is desperate for a brother or sister.

Going to see HR today.. but the one girl in the department is a gossip so I am hoping it can be kept from her as I don't want everyone else to know yet. Only me and my husband know about it.

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