Maternity help. Very confused

[Theother123]

Hi, bit of a long one.
I am 9 weeks pregnant and haven't told my work yet. I have been here 5 years and they offer a relatively good maternity package.
We were yesterday informed that the company or looking to sell our department and are at the moment in talk with a few buyers, it is looking like by the end of the year a deal would be finalized (We havent been told anymore than that yet)
My question is, if I am moved to the new company would I still be offered my current companies maternity package? Would it be the new companies? Would my employment technically be starting again and therefore I don't qualify for anything? This was an IVF pregnancy after 6 years and this happening now is such bad timing. Especially as I would be going on maternity only a couple of months after the buy out.
This is really worrying at the moment as I simply couldn't survive without any kind of income.

Any advice would be brilliant.

Thanks

You'll prob need to speak to your HR department. It's would most likely depend on the terms of your TUPE.

You should be protected under TUPE.

I was tuped just before I got pregnant (tupe in Feb, pregnant in March). My original terms and conditions still stand and are protected for, I think, two years. So I'm getting the same maternity stuff I always would have.

This is the public sector though, it might be different in the private sector.

Disclosing your pregnancy sooner rather than later might be helpful though, as that's when your legal protections kick in. Do you have a union? I'd start there. Failing that Maternity Action?

Congratulations OP.

If it was classified as a TUPE then the new company should communicate any measures they intend to make as part of the TUPE, so usually this a change in pay day etc but can also stipulate if they intend to change benefits. It depends if your maternity pay is contractual or non contractual, a copy of your terms and conditions or maternity policy would confirm this. If non contractual they may communicate certain benefits would not TUPE across but if contractual they would usually honour and then if they wanted to change the policy they would have to consult on the matter.

Hope everything goes well for you OP.

Thanks everyone, we don't have a union so I'm going to look into at least joining an external union.
I was going to hold off telling them about the pregnancy for a while, but it seems that it maybe better to do this sooner rather than later, I was worried that when the sale happens, they may use that against me when deciding who gets sold with the department and who get re-employment within the current business.

Thank you all for your advice, you have slightly calmed my nerves since i got the email x

I honestly don't know the ins and outs, or about TUPE, but when you go to your 20 week midwife appointment you should get your matB1 form which you then pass on to your employer. This is the legal document to 'officially' show you are pregnant. Your employer needs it to process statutory maternity pay etc and I assume any other allowances. I reckon it would be useful to pass it to HR as soon as you get it so that you are officially 'in the system' before any change of company happens. Good luck with pregnancy and work!

You'll probably find it will help towards you Not being sold. As much as they can't discriminate, companies are very scared of being sued these days that they avoid anything that may even suggest a snuff at a maternity legal case. I would tell them and let them know its concerning you, that way you stay in the driving seat somewhat.
Congrats on your pregnancy op