Started a new job 6 weeks ago and just found out I'm 6 weeks pregnant... what are my rights?

[PiperBeeley]

I'm on a 'trial' for 3 months from sept to dec. love my job, but only been there for 6 weeks, and just found out i'm 6 weeks pregnant! Do I have any rights re maternity pay etc? tia

It will be close as to whether you are entitled to smp, your MatB1 form will confirm yoùr due date and you need to have been employed when you got pg. If not you may qualify for Maternity Allowance. Either way you are entitled to tine of for antenatal appointments and a year's leave. However is your contract fixed term?

Not sure if being on a '3 month trial' means I am employed or not? I was told in writing that I am on a 3 month trial until xmas, which I agreed to in writing, so am I even officially employed by them? I don't have a contract yet

What Is the nature of the trial, are you an employee?

I was in this situation and as bascially hounded out. Sorry OP just being honest. There is a cut off date which I achieved in a matter of days but they were trying all sorts of nonsense to get me out including blaming ME for an IT error.

PS it was an american financial services company the hardcore type that sack you without even thinking twice, so dont expect the same response from yours.

Didnt mean to alarm you.
Congrats on your pregnancy. Youll get SMP at least, I got that and found out I was pregnant a couple of weeks before starting.

You have no obligation to tell them anything. I would definitely wait until your trial period is up and probably for a bit after that. Try and get it in writing that your trial has been satisfied. After that if they did try and get rid of you it would clearly be discrimination. You can't be dismissed for being pregnant.

I have already told them! They where really nice to me about it, but it's a very new business, and I'm sure they are worried about what it is all going to cost them. Its a hair salon and there is only 3 of us working there inc me. They have said if they are happy with my work after 3 months then they will take me on permanently, if not than they won't obv. I have no idea if I'm eligible for any mat pay from it at all :/

I was in this situation. Found out Just after getting he job, had to tell them as I was very poorly and in and out of hospital. When speaking to manager about mat dates and stuff her words were 'maybe it would be better if you just left'
The pay was terrible and the job was dull so I did just that.

It won't cost them to pay smp, they can reclaim it from government. There should be a date calculator online to assess whether you are eligible for smp or not, but 6 weeks is rather early to tell them. You may also need to look at whether you meet the earnings threshold for smp, if the salary is low you may not and therefore get ma.

Have you been in work before this job? If so, you’ll probably be entitled to MA. You’ll need to wait until your dating scan to find out whether you’ll get SMP or not because your dates might not permit it.

You can be an employee without a formal contract. Are you getting payslips? You'll need them if you're to be able to claim Maternity Allowance, which is what you apply for if you can't get SMP. Were you working before this job? They look at your work and earnings for the 15 months prior to due date.