Redundancy advice

[Shanners123]

Hi all, just wondering if anyone has any advice. I've been told my job is at risk of redundancy and left to wait until Tuesday before my first consultation meeting with the directors. I'm a one person dept and they've decided that due to "tough trading conditions" my role is "at risk". This is completely out of the blue. I'm 26 weeks pregnant and was due to leave for maternity leave in 10 weeks. I don't understand why they didn't wait until I was off on leave.. How much of a financial saving can they be making by getting rid of me now? I've been there more than 2 years and always got on great with directors, colleagues and my role so I feel betrayed. I'm also completely stressed out with financial worries which is so unfair... I shouldn't be dealing with these concerns at this (or any) stage of my pregnancy! They've also made another employee redundant but he was a completely different role and had been with the company for less than one year, so he left straight away and isn't looking back. I have another 8 days left in this "consultation period" during which I have to go to work everyday. If anyone has advice or personal experience I would appreciate hearing it.

Hi OP here is the ACAS guidance on maternity and redundancy.

www.acas.org.uk/media/pdf/r/f/Managing-redundancy-for-pregnant-employees-or-those-on-maternity-leave-accessible-version.pdf

If you have a trade union talk to them ASAP.

Otherwise I'd give citizens advice a ring.

Sorry you're having to deal with this.

I recently was involved in a redundancy process and one of my colleagues was pregnant. As part of her redundancy package, she received all of her maternity pay. Not sure if that's a legal requirement, but it can't hurt to ask.

Thank you both for your replies! Clare that leaflet is very helpful. I've been trying to call citizens advice but typical they're experiencing a higher volume of calls and I can never get through!
Glow since I'm past the qualifying week I should also get SMP. Do you know did your colleague receive it as a lump sum or was it to be paid as per her normal payment schedule? (I.e. Weekly / monthly) And also how did the employer know how many weeks to pay her, since they don't know at what point she will start a new job?

I was like this on Friday. There was a big redundancy announcement in my company (20/50) and i luckily missed it.
I did look into it on Thursday tho. Law says that after 25w you’re protected and they still need t pay you the maternity leave. Have you already handed mat1?

I’m not sure whether they pay full at the beginning or monthly as you say they don’t know how long you’ll be off for.

As few friends have been in the selected list few things that they need to give you (pregnant or not) : notice period , redundancy payment if more than 2 years and any entitled holiday allowance that hasn’t been used on your last contracted day.

Good luck !