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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

3 months pregnant and just been made redundant - no clue what to do!

152 replies

TwittleBee · 04/03/2019 15:14

I was greeted by my Director and HR manager this morning with the news that I am being made redundant. Brexit was their reason behind this along with I'm the last in so first out.

Anyway, I'm 3 months pregnant (They didn't know this btw) and so have no bloomin clue what to do next...

Our finances are so tight, we have a stupidly high mortgage and I'm the bread winner! I've done the maths and with everything striped back we will be £350 short a month. We won't be entitled to any support too (Halifax suggest we looked on entitledto website already) as DH earns £24k.

I've already asked Halifax if we could have a temporary break or just pay interest only but we don't qualify.

If I do apply for another job surely the new employer will be seriously annoyed that I am going to be leaving start of September? (Possibly sooner as DS was born early). Also how does mat leave and pay even work out?

I know £24k seems like a lot and I know many people manage to survive on that but we stupidly crippled ourselves with a mortgage of £1300 a month and have no savings. Again, I feel stupid now for us having another baby but there was no sign of job insecurity.

Just posting on here for advice, help or any sort of way out of this. Feel like I'm in a very dark hole right now and can't stop being physically sick with fear.

OP posts:
Original poster
TwittleBee · 04/03/2019 16:35

But issues we had before with DH attempting to take action against his employer (for discriminating on him for being in hospital and then again for denying paternity leave!) Was that it is all your word Vs their word. There's never enough evidence, as nothings written down, which means it gets nowhere...

OP posts:
bundesdelboy · 04/03/2019 16:37

So you feel you can't win due to being weaker than your employer, and won't try?

That's your choice but I'm hoping for the tiger mum in you to rear up here!

Xenia · 04/03/2019 16:40

I was hired at 5 months pregnant and with a 1 and 3 year old. As I just took about 4 weeks off and offered to take a lot of it as holiday it was no problem at all for the employer so you could do exactly the same surely?

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 04/03/2019 16:44

Given how long you were at the company would you have qualified for Mat Pay anyway?
Did you do you sums based on saving before the baby comes or surviving on SMP?

TBH I would look to get another job- ok it's not "fair" on them as such but oh well sure you wouldnt be the first or last woman to join a company pregnant.

Mummyoflittledragon · 04/03/2019 16:45

Ah I see. Small company.

Was the extension to your probation documented and was a reason given? Ie written evidence. I know others are saying you should fight this. I know nothing about employment law. However, I do think you should check they’ve worked legally.

It may well be you’ll never get more than 2 months out of them. But at least you will know you acted in your family’s best interest.

You never answered the question of whether you’re still working or on garden leave, just that if you’re home you have time to look into it tomorrow and look for a job, perhaps contractual work.

OllyBJolly · 04/03/2019 16:48

If it's a genuine redundancy situation then there isn't special "protection" for pregnant women. If the redundancy happens after the 15th week then SMP will still be paid.

Stickerrocks · 04/03/2019 16:48

You may have only been there for a short period and it may only be a small company, but they can only make you redundant if your role no longer exists. You must have been selected on a fair basis, based on your skills, qualifications, aptitude, performance or attendance, amongst other criteria. Last in first out can be used if it can be justified. They cannot select you for redundancy because you are pregnant or for any other reason related to maternity.

However, as a PP suggested, it takes time and energy to fight this and you need to find another role asap. You may decide this should be your top priority. I would try a mix of short term contracts and FT positions. Good luck.

OllyBJolly · 04/03/2019 16:49

Ah - just realised you might not qualify for SMP anyway. Sorry.

Inliverpool1 · 04/03/2019 16:51

I’ve been in this situation, was 110% made redundant due to pregnancy got a cheque for £3,000 and no references 🤷‍♀️

OneForTheRoadThen · 04/03/2019 16:52

Whoops sorry @CrohnicallyEarly I was actually replying to @tipsytrainee46 !

Original poster
TwittleBee · 04/03/2019 16:52

OnlyFoolsnMothers Yeah I didn't fall pregnant till Xmas time so well within allowance of SMP. We did have savings but unfortunately I was in multiple car accidents (neither my fault) and so we had to get a new car, cover costs etc of hospital and physio and medication. Granted it will hopefully all be claimed back from the claim going through but that's going to be between 1 to 3 years I was advised due to how severe they were.

Ah sorry Mummyoflittledragon Yeah at home now with 2 months pay. So I guess at least I am not working so I can job hunt.

OP posts:
Dragongirl10 · 04/03/2019 16:55

OP look at forms of home working to cover the shortfall, can you pet sit/iron/bookkeep/sew...look at people per hour and see if you have any useful skills.....

Do you have a spare room?

Original poster
TwittleBee · 04/03/2019 16:57

We do have a spare room BUT it is meant to be the nursery and has no carpet, hasn't been finished painting and currently hasn't a door - it's also a box room.

OP posts:
buzzbobbly · 04/03/2019 17:00

Petitprince Last in first out isn't usually an acceptable redundancy policy

This. Could they have shot themselves in foot here by making you redundant? With

iamruth · 04/03/2019 17:00

I have registered just to echo what a previous poster has said, contact pregantthenscrewed.com they are amazing and will offer you sensible free advice

CadburysTastesVileNow · 04/03/2019 17:01

Please post this in the employment issues section. There are several very well-qualified Mumsnetters who offer advice occasionally which would get you started.

RosiePosies · 04/03/2019 17:21

Hey @OP - just wanted to say congratulations, we were on the TTC threads together last year!

I will be claiming maternity allowance, which will be £146 a week for 39 weeks, as I went self employed after being made redundant last year. You get a 'test period' and need to have earned a certain amount in that time to get it. I have no doubt you'll qualify, but you can figure it all out on . In the mean time I would suggest a job with a set contract or temping xx

BrendasUmbrella · 04/03/2019 17:22

We do have a spare room BUT it is meant to be the nursery and has no carpet, hasn't been finished painting and currently hasn't a door - it's also a box room.

Could you put your DS in the box room temporarily, and let him keep some toys in your bedroom?

Original poster
TwittleBee · 04/03/2019 17:31

Hi there Rosie ! Thank you, I got there in the end! I'll give self employment a look but tbh I have no clue what I would do!

BrendasUmbrella we could do but we haven't any money to finish the room off right now and DS room is a rather interesting shade of bright green with dinosaurs... Also, DH pointed out who on earth would want to rent a room in a house with a toddler and a baby?

OP posts:
MarshaBradyo · 04/03/2019 17:33

I really thought length of job was one of the points of consideration

The probation thing sounds v dodgy

But as long as they can show due diligence you’re not protected when pg

Look for jobs do not feel bad

scaussie75 · 04/03/2019 17:43

Hello,

There is no law that you have to tell an employer that you are pregnant.
You do need to tell them by a certain week in order to be legible for maternity leave.
Being pregnant is not a reason to be discriminated against in a job hunt, so the law states, but in reality you will be discriminated against.
I was 4.5 mths pregnant when I arrived back in this country and I was flat out told I could not have 3 month contracts because I was pregnant. I got one agent who was sympathetic put it in writing for me but alas I was exhausted and pre-occupied with the job hunt to take it any further. I was in tears in the end after agency after agency said they could not hire someone who was pregnant, even for 4week and 3 month jobs. I felt so redundant and that my working life was over. Such a despairing time until I decided to not be upfront about the bump.
Once I realised I was not breaking a law, the job offers flowed in and I got my pick of jobs.
Don't be discouraged, you have a lot to offer and don't tell a future employer that you are pregnant.
Don't feel bad that they may be annoyed later about you not telling them upfront. If they are annoyed when you do announce it, then it just goes to show that they would have discriminated against you and that is against the law. You are not breaking the law by not saying. When I did announce it to my new boss, I told them with a big smile I had great, happy news....I was pregnant. It was only a contract job that was due to finish in my 8th month but it did not stop them from getting on the phone to agencies asking for a replacement, as I was pregnant, they were too scared to tell me this (I found out when my DH called saying an agency had been on the phone asking him if he was interested lol). So, I felt no guilt whatsoever drawing the contract out to my due date.
I could understand if it was a small company you started with being annoyed, as profit margins are less, but a medium to large company should account for maternity leave.
It annoys me that the laws are there but the mentality from both male and female employers have not changed since the 60s.
Good luck!

outpinked · 04/03/2019 17:46

The MN classic of ‘get a lodger’ Hmm. Most people don’t want a complete stranger moving into their family home with their young children, it’s such a strange concept.

I’m sorry this has happened to you. I’d imagine at three months you can hide the bump so I would do that whilst job hunting for the time being and hopefully something comes up. Unsure whether you’ll qualify for maternity allowance, you have to have been working there for 26 weeks before your due date so I think you’ve already missed that boat I’m afraid.

I would contact Halifax again to make your current position clear again, you simply can’t afford the payments on your DH’s wage alone.

OneForTheRoadThen · 04/03/2019 17:57

Do you actually want any advice @TwittleBee as lots of people have asked you relevant questions about your contract, whether you are in a union, redundancy schemes and the process itself and you haven't acknowledged any of them.

It's understandable if you just want to moan but some people are trying to give advice...

Original poster
TwittleBee · 04/03/2019 18:04

Sorry I thought I was clear enough with explaining it was a company of 8 people, only working there for 9 months and still on probation, 2 months paid but leaving now and only me made redundant.

Not part of a union, missed that one.

Have been answering people though and thanking people for advice. Just a lot going on as you can imagine!

OP posts:
Original poster
TwittleBee · 04/03/2019 18:06

outpinked I did explain that to them, the best they offered was 2 months of no payment but it's unlikely I would get that if I have outgoings such as petrol and other debt I could forfeit to make the payment. Also they said it would go on our record against us for any remortgage etc!

OP posts:
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