Is your job getting you down but worried about maternity pay?

[Bellabutterfly2014]

Hey ladies, I saw a couple of comments on the huge clickers thread about people's jobs so I thought I'd share A few thought with you all.

I've been in my job 4 years but it's different after a change of management and some days it's horrendous.

However after 4 years I'd get my maternity pay but the company are stingy they only give 6 weeks 90% pay followed by I think it's 33 weeks stat mat pay then whatever annual leave you have for that years they will however add all this up and divide by either 6/9/12 months (however long you choose to have off) which I guess would be helpful instead of being ok for 6 weeks then dropping down to a really low amount!!!!! I think I would also stand a reasonable chance of being allowed to go back 3/4 days instead of 5 which might be preferable.

Then, there is the other issue of us potentially loosing a big contract and being made redundant and if you are pregnant, who is going to employ you??!??!? And has anyone any experience of this? Do you get better redundancy pay if you are pregnant? And what happens if they make you redundant before maternity leave or during? Do you still get your maternity pay????

Any advice would be gratefully received x x x

Hi bella, so I have some experience here, I'm an hr director. I understand your situation completely I really don't like my job right now either but have to stay for mat leave reasons as my company enhance a lot and I am main breadwinner.

However I can maybe answer a few of your questions. All companies have to offer the allowances you are entitled to there isn't an option regardless of how long you have been there this link might help. So you shouldn't feel you have to stay www.gov.uk/maternity-pay-leave/pay

Regarding redundancy pay technically if you are pregnant you aren't entitled to more pay but it makes companies less likely to do it as there is a high risk you could bring a claim that you had been selected because you were pregnant. It isn't full proof. But may deter them from selecting you especially is serval of you do the same job.

Whilst you are on mat leave, again they can try to make you redundant but given you are out on leave a company can't make you come in for consultation therefore it's unlikely they would do this, again you are also very risk to make redundant at this time

I hope this helps

I worried a lot about this too. I was really lucky in that we knew towards the end of last year that this year would be the year we start TTC and around the time we came to that decision I was offered an internal move and I've been here 7 months now.

However, TTC seems to be taking forever and the new job definitely has a limited life span so it's that age old dilemma of what to do about it. I'm happy enough for now, and probably have another 6 months before I'm tearing my hair out but if I am not preg by Xmas then I'm going to need to give this serious consideration.

Interested to hear what the rest of you think

And Katy those links are really helpful - thanks!

Hi everyone, thanks Katy for the advice and the link, super helpful.

It is a worry isn't it? I'm pleased I'm not the only one thinking about it.

gemerama, I guess this puts things into perspective, I wish you all the luck in the world and Sarah, we have said the same, if I am not pregnant by Christmas we'll review the situation however I do keep looking but there is absolutely naff all about in the area I am looking for so trying to focus on getting pregnant and then hopefully will have something nice to think about other than work.

Katy, a girl that does my exact role in a different branch went on mat leave and then came back 3 days a week and they advertised for a 0.4 person to jobshare the role, question is, do companies HAVE to facilitate part time working??? Xxx

Hiya, so no legally they don't have to facilitate part time working www.gov.uk/flexible-working/overview link here explains. However if they have offered this to someone else then they will need to justify why they couldn't offer it to you if this was your preference :-)

Thanks Katy that's great, I am thinking they will offer me part time tho I can't think of any reasons why not but I guess I'll have to wait n c x x