Redundancy during maternity leave

Daydreamer94 · 2025-08-08T14:13:07+00:00

To cut a long story short, I found out I was being made redundant but was due to start maternity leave. Since then it’s been a bit of a shit show, they didn’t follow current regulations and basically made a mess of the whole thing, discriminating against me in the process. They decided to start without prejudice conversations to basically admit their faults and offered me a role which was technically a demotion. My solicitor then sent them a letter asking for an exit package as they have failed to find me a suitable alternative role. It’s now been over a week and half and they have not replied. My solicitor has not been great tbh and I am worried about next steps. Does anyone have experience of anything similar, how long did things take? Just very anxious and afraid, I don’t want to go back there but I also can’t resign as I have a clawback.

TeaBiscuitsNaptime · 08/08/2025 15:20

Hmm. It's not right what they did at all but do you think you can do the role effectively and manage a baby at the same time? If so, I would go on the side of reassurance. Schedule a meeting with your boss, planning beforehand what you are going to say and clarify exactly why they are demoting you. If it's the case that they don't think you will be able to manage the role raising kids, then you need to have a clear plan outlined to them on how you will ensure you will get the job done. They might have known other women that had to take time off due to child issues and are assuming you will be the same. Could be worth a try anyway 🤞 Or you could suggest Jobsharing the role for awhile. It could end up benefiting everyone. Sometimes we don't like to admit that we can't go full steam ahead with our career when we have kids. But kids do take up a certain amount of your energy. Think about what is right for you in your situation (support, childcare, housing situation etc)

Original poster

Daydreamer94 · 08/08/2025 15:28

TeaBiscuitsNaptime · 08/08/2025 15:20

Hmm. It's not right what they did at all but do you think you can do the role effectively and manage a baby at the same time? If so, I would go on the side of reassurance. Schedule a meeting with your boss, planning beforehand what you are going to say and clarify exactly why they are demoting you. If it's the case that they don't think you will be able to manage the role raising kids, then you need to have a clear plan outlined to them on how you will ensure you will get the job done. They might have known other women that had to take time off due to child issues and are assuming you will be the same. Could be worth a try anyway 🤞 Or you could suggest Jobsharing the role for awhile. It could end up benefiting everyone. Sometimes we don't like to admit that we can't go full steam ahead with our career when we have kids. But kids do take up a certain amount of your energy. Think about what is right for you in your situation (support, childcare, housing situation etc)

Edited

What do you mean can I do the job whilst having kids? I don’t have a boss as I have been made redundant. I think perhaps they don’t take me seriously and think they can just put me in any old role and I’ll be grateful but I am an extremely hardworking and dedicated employee. I feel hurt and letdown that going on maternity leave leaves me worse off than others that didn’t. It’s not fair

OP posts:

TeaBiscuitsNaptime · 08/08/2025 15:59

I suppose I was just thinking that some jobs can be quite demanding or they can require travel, overtime, etc. I was wondering if your company could be worried about the job getting done. Not that there's a reason to be worried or anything. I'm not surprised you feel like that. Its not at all fair. It sounds like you have been working hard and pulling your weight in there. Sorry this has happened and congrats on the pregnancy too! Hopefully they will respond to your solicitors letter soon 🤞

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 08/08/2025 16:21

It’s not up to the OP’s employer to decide if she can carry out her job and raise a child. Her childcare arrangements are none of her business unless they impeed on her ability to do her job.

@Daydreamer94 call Pregnant then Screwed https://pregnantthenscrewed.com/

Or Maternity Action
https://maternityaction.org.uk/

Fitzcarraldo353 · 08/08/2025 16:22

What are you talking about @TeaBiscuitsNaptime No woman needs to reassure work that they can do their job after maternity leave. They're entitled to their job back, unless genuine grounds for redundancy. They can't make assumptions about whether she's up to it. Do you have half a clue about the law?

Sorry you've been made redundant @Daydreamer94 It's an awful experience at the best of times but when pregnant or.on maternity leave it's even worse and it sounds like this has been mishandled. No idea if you have a discrimination claim but you definitely should be negotiating an great exit package. No idea how long that might take but keep on your solicitor and let them handle it.

Meadowfinch · 08/08/2025 16:38

I was 'made redundant' first day back from maternity leave. They'd given my job, dept and team to the sales director's wife.

They'd also told the firm's pension company I'd left four months earlier. The pension company then wrote to me, so I had documentary evidence. I was copied in on an email from mngt to my team, saying I wasn't coming back, at about the same time.

They didn't try to offer me an alternate role. I was the only person made redundant. They refused to pay my bonus or pension during my notice period. This after I'd worked for them for years, hit every target and been given a performance bonus.

If it hadn't been so annoying it would have been funny.

I had legal insurance as part of my home insurance. Direct Line were very good. Took one look at the evidence and told me to choose my own solicitor while they provided a barrister. Company held out for 9 months until the week before the tribunal, then paid me a year's salary to shut up and go away.

You need legal advice OP. Find an employment solicitor. If you have legal insurance, you will probably have to pay for the first consultation but after that, the insurance should cover it. Good luck.

To anyone else planning a baby, take legal insurance first. My £26 premium saved me a whole year's salary.

TeaBiscuitsNaptime · 08/08/2025 16:40

Fitzcarraldo353 · 08/08/2025 16:22

What are you talking about @TeaBiscuitsNaptime No woman needs to reassure work that they can do their job after maternity leave. They're entitled to their job back, unless genuine grounds for redundancy. They can't make assumptions about whether she's up to it. Do you have half a clue about the law?

Sorry you've been made redundant @Daydreamer94 It's an awful experience at the best of times but when pregnant or.on maternity leave it's even worse and it sounds like this has been mishandled. No idea if you have a discrimination claim but you definitely should be negotiating an great exit package. No idea how long that might take but keep on your solicitor and let them handle it.

Ya, I suppose it's not her job to reassure them. I was just wondering if it could be sorted out between them. No, they can't at all let her go because she's going on maternity leave. I hope she gets the exit package or files an unfair dismissal case or something. Or if the company has a union

Original poster

Daydreamer94 · 08/08/2025 21:03

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 08/08/2025 16:21

It’s not up to the OP’s employer to decide if she can carry out her job and raise a child. Her childcare arrangements are none of her business unless they impeed on her ability to do her job.

@Daydreamer94 call Pregnant then Screwed https://pregnantthenscrewed.com/

Or Maternity Action
https://maternityaction.org.uk/

I have contacted both of those charities and they both said I should get legal advice (which I did), my solicitor wrote to them outlining the different claims I have and to settle on an exit package. They are just being difficult and not responding, which is eating away at me and I hate it so as I feel like I am not present for the kids.

OP posts:

Original poster

Daydreamer94 · 08/08/2025 21:06

Meadowfinch · 08/08/2025 16:38

I was 'made redundant' first day back from maternity leave. They'd given my job, dept and team to the sales director's wife.

They'd also told the firm's pension company I'd left four months earlier. The pension company then wrote to me, so I had documentary evidence. I was copied in on an email from mngt to my team, saying I wasn't coming back, at about the same time.

They didn't try to offer me an alternate role. I was the only person made redundant. They refused to pay my bonus or pension during my notice period. This after I'd worked for them for years, hit every target and been given a performance bonus.

If it hadn't been so annoying it would have been funny.

I had legal insurance as part of my home insurance. Direct Line were very good. Took one look at the evidence and told me to choose my own solicitor while they provided a barrister. Company held out for 9 months until the week before the tribunal, then paid me a year's salary to shut up and go away.

You need legal advice OP. Find an employment solicitor. If you have legal insurance, you will probably have to pay for the first consultation but after that, the insurance should cover it. Good luck.

To anyone else planning a baby, take legal insurance first. My £26 premium saved me a whole year's salary.

Thank you for sharing that but also sorry you had a terrible experience. It seems like it is all too common which is such a shame. I have a solicitor, not sure how great they are but at least I have that. I can’t imagine waiting a whole 9 months for an answer, did you get another job in the meantime? Glad it was sorted in the end though.

OP posts:

Original poster

Daydreamer94 · 08/08/2025 21:07

Fitzcarraldo353 · 08/08/2025 16:22

What are you talking about @TeaBiscuitsNaptime No woman needs to reassure work that they can do their job after maternity leave. They're entitled to their job back, unless genuine grounds for redundancy. They can't make assumptions about whether she's up to it. Do you have half a clue about the law?

Sorry you've been made redundant @Daydreamer94 It's an awful experience at the best of times but when pregnant or.on maternity leave it's even worse and it sounds like this has been mishandled. No idea if you have a discrimination claim but you definitely should be negotiating an great exit package. No idea how long that might take but keep on your solicitor and let them handle it.

Thank you, yes i’ll keep chasing them. Perhaps these things take longer than I thought.

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milkandblackspiders · 08/08/2025 21:13

I was in a similar situation - one brief email explaining my rights and why what they were doing was illegal (helpfully worded by a solicitor friend) was enough for them to offer me a settlement agreement that I was happy enough with.
However it did take them about 2 months to reply! So waiting a week is nothing, they are probably taking advice from their own legal team.

HermioneWeasley · 09/08/2025 07:36

Your posts are a bit confusing - you say you’ve been offered another role, also that you’ve been made redundant and thst they have initiated without prejudice discussions.

if you’re not happy with your solicitor you can change

Original poster

Daydreamer94 · 09/08/2025 21:14

milkandblackspiders · 08/08/2025 21:13

I was in a similar situation - one brief email explaining my rights and why what they were doing was illegal (helpfully worded by a solicitor friend) was enough for them to offer me a settlement agreement that I was happy enough with.
However it did take them about 2 months to reply! So waiting a week is nothing, they are probably taking advice from their own legal team.

Thank you, really appreciate you sharing that as it puts it into perspective!

OP posts:

Original poster

Daydreamer94 · 09/08/2025 21:16

HermioneWeasley · 09/08/2025 07:36

Your posts are a bit confusing - you say you’ve been offered another role, also that you’ve been made redundant and thst they have initiated without prejudice discussions.

if you’re not happy with your solicitor you can change

I appreciate it is confusing because it’s confusing for me the way they are behaving. They had not offered me suitable roles beforehand. I started to kick off and they then gave me a really silly argument as to why they had offered those roles and then offered me another unsuitable role but this time off the record so to speak. I don’t have a position at that company as it stands as my role was made redundant.

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