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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think this is pregnancy discrimination?

109 replies

Moonpigdotcomm · 07/03/2023 14:57

I started a new job a few months ago. The job was part time, but every day with the same working hours. The company is a very small family run business, in an industry that requires certain skills/qualifications in order to do the job. When I started I’d already been qualified for a year and had worked at another company doing the same job. Despite this I felt very much like a spare part from the beginning, being given work outside of my job role such as cleaning and office work 90% of the time because I’m ‘less experienced’ than the other staff and made to feel like I have to prove myself first.

a few weeks into starting the job I found out I was pregnant, which was very happy news after having some problems conceiving. I kept it to myself for a while, hiding the morning sickness and fatigue at work and just getting on with it. After the scan I posted the news on SM and nobody from the company acknowledged it. I’d felt uneasy about telling them in person because of how new I was in the role.

Immediately after my announcement they stopped updating my rota and it just showed I had no hours. This went on for a couple of weeks, and when I asked about it I was told that there wasn’t enough work for me this week. A few days later I received a contract in the post saying I’m now on a zero hours contract. I tried to get in contact about this and was ignored. Another month has now gone by and I’ve not been offered any hours or had any contact with them at all.

Is this their way of getting rid of me for being pregnant? I wasn’t planning on taking any real maternity leave anyway since my partner is a SAHD and I could have easily carried on doing the hours after a few weeks off since it wasn’t full time. I’m getting UC and I’m worried it’s going to mess up my claim.

OP posts:
Original poster
Moonpigdotcomm · 07/03/2023 17:41

Anyone?

OP posts:
MagentaRocks · 07/03/2023 17:43

So you haven't actually told them?

BruceAndNosh · 07/03/2023 17:45

Have you actually told your employer that you are pregnant?

FoxInSocksSatOnBlocks · 07/03/2023 17:45

Considering you haven’t told them you’re pregnant then no, you wouldn’t be able to say they were discriminating against you because they don’t “know”.

Why on earth would you announce it on Facebook but not officially tell them so you would be protected and they could carry out a risk assessment? Confused

They obviously don’t feel they can trust you after that.

devildeepbluesea · 07/03/2023 17:46

If you weren’t on a zero hours contract when you started and have proof of this then I can’t see how they can avoid the accusation that this is pregnancy discrimination - especially if you can prove the link with dates. If you were on a zero hours contract beforehand - more difficult to prove.
But if your hours have changed after you pregnancy was made public you have the right not to be discriminated against even if you are a worker (i.e. on a zero hours contract) and not an employee.

QuertyGirl · 07/03/2023 17:46

Formally tell them by email. You should've told them before you put it on SM really, but it's done now.

But yes, it does sound like pregnancy discrimination

Wolfiefan · 07/03/2023 17:47

Have you told them you’re pregnant? What did your contract say about hours?

devildeepbluesea · 07/03/2023 17:47

Sorry missed that you hadn’t formally told them. But if they know, and it’s reasonable that they do know (e.g. if you’re SM friends with colleagues) then the same applies - you can’t be discriminated against.

RosaBonheur · 07/03/2023 17:47

Did you have a formal written employment contract before they told you you were on a zero hours contract?

QuertyGirl · 07/03/2023 17:47

devildeepbluesea · 07/03/2023 17:47

Sorry missed that you hadn’t formally told them. But if they know, and it’s reasonable that they do know (e.g. if you’re SM friends with colleagues) then the same applies - you can’t be discriminated against.

This!

Get some legal advice

Gabby8 · 07/03/2023 17:53

It sounds like it could but because you never formally told them you were pregnant via their procedure you can’t really make that accusation. Well you can, but they would argue the contract came before they were aware. Given nobody acknowledged your post it would be hard to argue they were aware. You could contact the organisation Pregnant then Screwed and see if they could advise.

HowcanIhelp123 · 07/03/2023 17:53

You announced you were pregnant on social media, which they can see, but haven't actually told them in any official capacity? They're probably pissed off about that! That's the level of immaturity I'd expect from a teenager.

You can get legal advice and push it, but you may find they say there isn't enough work and simply fire you rather than the zero hours, you've been there under 2 years. Because of the way you've gone about it, you have no way to prove they know you're pregnant. They'll claim to have had no idea.

Viviennemary · 07/03/2023 17:54

It does sound like it's discrimination. They cant just change your contract from fixed hours to zero hours. But younshouldmhave told them and not o
Announced it on sm. There is a board I've heard mentioned on here called pregnant and screwed.You could trynasking there if nobody comes along on here with advice.

PurpleFlower1983 · 07/03/2023 17:58

You should have told them formally. They’re technically not discriminating against you as no one know!

HotToddyColdSauvignon · 07/03/2023 18:02

Why were you adding colleagues you’d only known for a few weeks on your social media?!

but yes, agree with PP, if you haven’t actually “told” them officially then I doubt they can be accused of discrimination - even if it is!

Original poster
Moonpigdotcomm · 07/03/2023 18:02

They all follow me on SM and usually interact with my posts, but have completely stopped since the announcement. Yes, I know it probably would have been wise to say something beforehand but the manager was always stressed out and arsey with everyone at work so it just seemed difficult to approach the subject

OP posts:
zorgoid · 07/03/2023 18:02

Gabby8 · 07/03/2023 17:53

It sounds like it could but because you never formally told them you were pregnant via their procedure you can’t really make that accusation. Well you can, but they would argue the contract came before they were aware. Given nobody acknowledged your post it would be hard to argue they were aware. You could contact the organisation Pregnant then Screwed and see if they could advise.

This is the best advice

zorgoid · 07/03/2023 18:06

Moonpigdotcomm · 07/03/2023 18:02

They all follow me on SM and usually interact with my posts, but have completely stopped since the announcement. Yes, I know it probably would have been wise to say something beforehand but the manager was always stressed out and arsey with everyone at work so it just seemed difficult to approach the subject

Oh

Yes you should have told HR or whoever performs that rolr first

zorgoid · 07/03/2023 18:07

Did any of them comment on your post?

Original poster
Moonpigdotcomm · 07/03/2023 18:10

@zorgoid nope

OP posts:
Butchyrestingface · 07/03/2023 18:11

I can't believe you announced it on SM but didn't bother to actually TELL your employers.

Can't see you winning a discrimination case, they're going to deny that they ever saw your post.

ActDottie · 07/03/2023 18:12

Omg it is beyond me why you thought it appropriate to announce on social media but not actually have a formal conversation with your work.

As others have said because you haven’t officially told them, no one “interacted” with your SM post they you can’t really get from for discrimination as I don’t think there’s anyway of proving that they know! I don’t understand why you wouldn’t just tel them!?!?

Theunamedcat · 07/03/2023 18:13

What was your original contract? Did you sign it?

Bigmirrorssmallrooms · 07/03/2023 18:15

I can see why they may not be happy you didn’t do the courtesy of telling them. It likely is discrimination but as you’ve not actually ever officially told them you were pregnant and there was clearly not enough work, then I don’t think you’re going to get far.

Simonjt · 07/03/2023 18:16

When did you formally tell your employer? Was this before or after your change of contract?