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AIBU?

Pregnancy and redundancy

45 replies

sweetandsaltypopcorn · 03/04/2017 18:10

I posted this is employment issues but had no response.

Not sure if this is the best place to post this but there is more traffic!

It was announced yesterday to the company that there are going to be redundancies across the company and I am in one of the affected teams.

They haven't announced who will be made redundant yet.

I have only been with the company 18 months and so won't qualify for any redundancy pay.

I'm also 8 weeks pregnant. I hadn't told them yet as obviously wanted to make sure all was ok first but now I don't know whether I should or not. I don't think it'll protect me as such as this was obviously planned a while back and my OH thinks if I tell them now they will use it as an excuse to chose me as I would be leaving anyway and they'd have to pay mat leave.

If I don't say anything and I am chosen. I don't think I'll be able to get another job in time to qualify for smp.

Pretty rubbish times at the moment.

OP posts:

Report

peachgreen · 21/04/2017 18:07

Oh OP that is really shit, I'm so sorry. I think it's worth talking to Citizen's Advice to work out what assistance you're entitled to and what your best move is now.

sweetandsaltypopcorn · 21/04/2017 18:05

Yes they are enforcing notice periods although I have requested gardening leave as I don't feel comfortable staying in a toxic environment when others are not in the same position. I haven't had that confirmed yet.

Yes I guess I am entitled to mat allowance - although not sure how much that is.

The frustrating thing is this happened to me with dc1 although I was six months pregnant and so had already qualified for smp.

So upset it's happening again.

OP posts:

Fragglez · 21/04/2017 18:00

OP do you qualify for maternity allowance rather than smp?

AnathemaPulsifer · 21/04/2017 17:19

Are they making you work out your notice? If not perhaps you can get temp work to double up with your paid notice and bridge the financial gap?

AnathemaPulsifer · 21/04/2017 17:18

Sorry to hear that OP, that sucks. I know it's far less than you were expecting but at least you can get Maternity Allowance: www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance/how-to-claim

sweetandsaltypopcorn · 21/04/2017 17:02

Just wanted to keep people updated.

Today I was made redundant.

I am 10 + 6 and my 3 months notice only takes me up until the third week of July. I will not be 25 weeks by this time.

OP posts:

BlackberryandNettle · 06/04/2017 21:41

I would keep quiet and let a few more weeks tick by... Then even if selected, if they need to give you 3 months notice wouldn't that take you past 25 weeks? So you would get mat pay. Sorry if I've misunderstood how he notice period works...

MimiSunshine · 06/04/2017 20:23

How many people are affected? This will determine the process you go through. Got what it's worth I wouldn't say anything either. If they've already chosen you it won't make any difference but good luck

sweetandsaltypopcorn · 06/04/2017 11:05

I still haven't said anything. We had first meetings this week and the selection criteria was shared and we will find out next week what's happening.

OP posts:

Sunshinegirl82 · 04/04/2017 11:19

The reason I think it would be money well spent is that if you tell them and then they select you, you have something that you can make some noise about. It really isn't uncommon in this situations for businesses to pay a bit more than they have to in order to avoid a potential claim. It isn't only about whether you are selected or not, it's getting yourself in the best possible position to come out of it as well as you can financially.

Definitely check your home insurance. An hour with a solicitor will probably cost a couple of hundred pounds but if you can run to it I really think it would be worth it.

HandbagCrab · 04/04/2017 10:56

The reason you're protected is it's harder for a pregnant woman to get another job and you also won't get maternity pay. Speaking from experience employers and colleagues don't really give a shit so you have to look after yourself. Look at maternity action, I think they have a helpline and might be able to advise properly. Best of luck

frazzled3ds · 04/04/2017 10:51

Check your home insurance policy details - many have a legal advice line included, and I know mine does include employment related assistance within that. You should also be able to get half an hour of free advice from a solicitor - many practices offer this service.

Alternatively have a chat with your local Citizens Advice or even ACAS, both may be able to offer you more advice.

Good luck.

sweetandsaltypopcorn · 04/04/2017 10:48

I've had a dig around diaries of management and it looks like there's something booked in for this Thursday and then next Thursday. This will be a quick process.

I just need to work out if I will have a notice period and whether that'll be paid.

I'll see what I can do re lawyer but being wary of spending money.

OP posts:

Sunshinegirl82 · 04/04/2017 10:43

I think it might benefit you to have a chat with a solicitor about this. You could probably chat through your options in an hour and I think it would be money well spent.

sweetandsaltypopcorn · 04/04/2017 10:41

This is why I think I should just keep quiet. If they've selected me they've selected me and there's nothing me announcing it will
Change whereas if they don't they can't do anything about it and then I'll announce it later down the line.

OP posts:

Sunshinegirl82 · 04/04/2017 10:00

Sorry, the process should be completed before the decision as to who is made redundant is taken.

Sunshinegirl82 · 04/04/2017 09:59

It depends on the process. The whole point of a redundancy process is that it should be completed before the redundancy took place. You're in a slightly sticky situation because you have less than 2 years service so can't claim unfair dismissal so they could argue your dismissal was unfair but not discriminatory.

If you think you're likely to go then I would definitely tell them asap. I don't think I'm that scenario you have much to lose by telling them?

sweetandsaltypopcorn · 04/04/2017 09:53

Thanks for all your comments. I am so torn about what to do. Whilst I want to tell them (and had planned to due to feeling crap), I really am worried about being penalised.

I have another dc so it's not just this baby either.

@sunshinegirl i think they will have already selected me due to various reasons and that if I tell them now they will be able to prove that they started this process and selected me before knowing and therefore it wouldn't be based on pregnancy

OP posts:

CPParenttoDD1234 · 04/04/2017 09:33

I'm sorry you need to look after yourself and your baby.

I wouldn't think about what anybody else thinks about you on your team. If they choose you they have ligitimate reason.

You absolutely need to think about yourself as you may not be able to get another job and will be left jobless and pregnant with a little mouth to feed.

You need to think solely about yourself.

FruitCider · 04/04/2017 09:03

If you have had your booking in appointment I would declare your pregnancy. Especially if you have had 2 days off sick due to a pregnancy related illness.

Sunshinegirl82 · 04/04/2017 08:53

I really would not concern yourself that everyone will hate you. I have seen this a fair bit and in reality that just doesn't happen.

I think this "using pregnancy to avoid redundancy" is unfair OP. You are concerned that the business would select you because you are pregnant which suggests you don't 100% trust the business to be completely by the book.

Look after yourself, businesses do not lose people that they really want to keep. They will make this redundancy exercise work for them, it's a business at the end of the day so no point relying on them to do you a favour.

If the worst did happen I'd suggest seeking advice from a solicitor (sometimes a deal can be done - not always but sometimes). It's worth checking out if you would be entitled to maternity allowance. When I have seen this happen in the past people have temped until later in the pregnancy and then claimed maternity allowance. Not brilliant but better than nothing.

araiwa · 04/04/2017 08:28

if you use your pregnancy to avoid redundancy, be prepared for everyone on your team to hate you

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sweetandsaltypopcorn · 04/04/2017 08:16

Whilst I don't want special treatment as such I need to protect myself and what will happen given that I am pregnant. I cannot be in a situation whereby I am pregnant and then not eligible to any mat pay. I've gone from being entitled to enhanced mat pay to potentially nothing.

OP posts:

cheminotte · 04/04/2017 07:11

Busy if the OP is made redundant before starting maternity leave she will lose her entitlement to maternity pay and find it very difficult to get another job while pregnant. Of course she should be treated differently.

specialsubject · 03/04/2017 22:50

If it is more than a few I'd assume that the company may not last long anyway.

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