I think I'm going to lose my job

[Thaila]

Hi, my boss wants to meet with me this week. I'm on maternity leave and have a 5 month old DD. They are making redundancies and I have a feeling that I'm going to lose my job. I have had a lot of sick leave due to depression and I know my boss doesn't like me and I'm pretty sure she wants me out. I'm so scared. How will I manage to keep a roof over our heads with no income? Will we become homeless or have to live in a hostel? I don't have anywhere to go and my family won't help me out. I feel sick with worry.

It might be worth posting in legal but I am pretty certain they can't make you redundant while on ML...

If the worst happens.. you need to apply for all the benefits you can.

They can make you redundant on ml but they need to justify it just like they would anyone not on ml - it's the role that is being made redundant, not the individual. I would speak to acas, and ensure that they are following legislation appropriately to the size of your organisation. If there are more than (I think 30) people affected you should have a consultation process which you should be kept informed of should you require it.

They should also try to slot you into a suitable alternative role.

Try not to panic. Speak to your boss. Write down all the details (timeline, specifics on jobs, number of people involved, process) Call ACAS once you have any info. Good luck.

A lot of companies are reluctant to make people on maternity leave redundant, they can legally to do it. My large company has been through several rounds of redundancy, they did a matrix assessment to see who to let go and they didn't put the people on ml through it, which caused a bit of grumbling, so being on ml does seem to protect you a bit