Anyone else made redundant while on maternity leave

[yankiegirl]

I was just wondering if this happened to anyone else. I hadn't even been on leave 6 months when my company made me redundant! Now I am scrambling to get a job as we need both salaries!!

I have but it was voluntary so not the same at all. My company was still very reluctant to do it and made sure I was completely happy with the settlement etc.

I assume there is no doubt at all that it's a genuine redundancy and not related to your pregnancy in any way?

That is it - I am sure it was related to my pregnancy as no one in the company could do what I was doing and everything was outsourced at 4 times the expense!! Basically was told if I tried to force the issue I would have been made redundant upon return and get nothing. So had to settle in the end to ensure had enough money to cover looking for another job!

I was one of many woman out on maternity leave in the department.

Yes, redundant from my position, but not from the company. Offered junior position. Also know of plenty of others who were made redundant. Illegal, but plenty ways around it if a company wants rid of you. I have seen it all and have become 100% cynical in the process I'm afraid.....
What's your circumstances?

Good luck in finding a new job!

I was the sole person responsible for what I did - became pregnant rather unexpectedly (DH and I were trying for a year, but told couldn't have children). Worked upto 6 weeks before due date and only missed a couple dayts of work due to pregnancy and still continued to work late when needed. Was off on leave for 5 months - called my company to say I wanted to discuss about coming back when i was told they needed to speak to me anyway and went in (with my DS no less, as boss asked me to bring him in so everyone could see him) and was told I was being made redundant as there was no interest in business for what I did - lie as I talked to the people they outsourced my work to and they said they are very busy and can't see any reason as to why I was made redundant!

I think as I travel a distance to work they worried I wouldn't be as dedicated or work the overtime I use to because of DS!

Sorry so long winded but as you can tell very upset!!

Did they follow all the regular procedures for redundancy? Have you signed a settlement etc? Otherwise you could mention sex discrimination to them and get your redundancy payments bumped up. I presume you wouldn't want to go on working for these w***rs?

Didn't really follow regular procedures, but did take legal advice. Did sign agreement and got settlement - ironic thing is I help draft the agreement I signed!! You are right could have continued to work for the w***rs after making me redundant after working 50 hours and being 8 months pregnant!!

Did they follow all the regular procedures for redundancy? Have you signed a settlement etc? Otherwise you could mention sex discrimination to them and get your redundancy payments bumped up. I presume you wouldn't want to go on working for these w***rs?

Have you actually accepted it? It might be worth running it past the Maternity Alliance to check they have followed procedures correctly (notice, reason etc). Why would you not have been entitled to anything otherwise, for example, or had you only been there a short while or on a short term contract. Happened to a friend of mine who threatened unfair dismissal because they didn't follow the rules and they finally settled in the nick of time. Meant she had to work from home after maternity leave for a month or so which was more hassle for them than her!

Good luck with your job hunting.

I had to accept the settlement - did get legal advice and my solicitor said had great case, but would cost £8K up front to bring action!! I was there for over 3 years, but wouldn't have gotten anything much as they would have only needed to give the statutory redundancy amount which is very low!!

Thanks for the wishes - have had 2 interviews, so fingers crossed I get one!!

Personally, I think it sounds extremely fishy but you say you had legal advice?

Crossed posts... I understand now.

I love how they pass all this legislation to protect pregnant woman and encourage us to have babies, but the reality is that it is just paper, as companies can still do what they want - as one who works in the legal field - if you want to do something and it is not out and out illegal there is always around the legislation to do what you want legally
Sorry for the winge - just needed to vent!

Yankiegirl, I agree. You also have to think about wheather you want to sue or make "difficulties" or just go quietly in terms on your future chances on the job market. Personally I did not pursue although I was told I had a really good case because my future employes would view me as "difficult". I always used to hear things like that about people on the "grapevine" when I was in managerial position so word does get around....I personally think it's better to just get a new job, but of course this doesn't improve the situation for other women coming after you......:-(

It is also a question if you actually have the energy to put up a fight against a big company when you've just had a baby........

FairyMum thanks for the encouragement. I do feel bad about not fighting, but I know I would have been viewed as a trouble maker and especially in the legal field which is so tightknit and in my particular field of law even more so and you are right, just didn't have the energy after the baby - had a dream pregnancy up until the last few weeks and than just had a bad few weeks and rough delivery - so I was just exhausted!!

This sounds terrible, Yankiegirl and makes me a tad worried as I'm on maternity leave too...I am so surprised that they can get away with this but can see exactly why you did what you did. Must have been a very difficult decision and not what you need at the moment - good luck with new dream job when it comes

Thanks Smiler2. Don't worry about being made redundant not every company is as cruel as mine!! But just saw an article in the Times about how this is becoming a trend that pregnant women and ones on maternity leave are being made redundant! What a sad state of affairs!

I was made redundant just as my leave was due to start. They also owed me 6 weeks pay. They went into liquidation, but just renamed the business, and continued trading. They refused to take my calls etc. It was also a nightmare because they did my P60 wrong, and refused to reissue it. Then my line manager found out that they hadn't been paying any tax, despite taking it from our salaries, so I'm still not sure what will happen about that. I applied for MA from the government, and it took them 14 weeks to assess the case. I was so annoyed, because if I'd been on my own, I'd have had no money for all that time. I never got my back pay either. I got some from the national insurance fund, but that is capped at £260 per week, when my income was £365. It just drives me mad that we were all made redundant, just so they could shirk their debts and carry on... I was also led to believe that I WAS on leave from August, but in september I got my redundancy letter, dated July!

Sorry to hear that Ixel - as you know they can't do what they did, but sad truth is there really isn't anything you can do, as they went into liquidation!!

I hope things work out for the best for you.