First Time Pregnant Mummy Working For a Clueless Employer!! - Help!!!

[BabyQuin2020]

Hello All,

First time on here after hearing lots of good things.

I am hoping you all might be able to give me some advice..

I am a first time mummy, currently 13 weeks plus 4, working full time, planning on taking maternity leave and returning to work afterwards.

I have informed my employer verbally that I am pregnant, followed up in writing.

Whilst most people congratulated me and seemed happy for me and my Husband, this was 2 weeks ago this Friday and so far, I haven't been given any information regarding my Maternity Leave, other than an email with the government link for SMP.

I chased this again this morning as after discussing with my Midwife, she seemed concerned that I haven't even had a risk assessment (I am desk based in an office) let alone anything else.

The response I received was, no one in my company has been pregnant for over 20 years and i have to wait for the answers i need when they know them and a sit down meeting. The person who is supposed to be doing this meeting is also very new to the company, whereas everyone else (my bosses etc) have been here 20 / 30 years.

I am concerned that I am being 'swept under the carpet' along with my pregnancy and that this new person will not know what they are doing when it ( IF ) it finally comes to this illusive meeting. I was also off sick yesterday thanks to the wonderful pregnancy headaches and was required to complete an absence form. Is this still required when you are pregnant?.

Has anyone else experienced anything similar or could give me any advice?. I've spoken to my Union but am constantly waiting for someone to get back to me.

I feel like this should be such a happy time for me and my Husband, but I have so much worry about my work and pay situation.

Help!!!!!!

xx

I’m not an HR expert but I work for a very large company with processes for everything and at 13 weeks I didn’t have anything more done than you have so far. I think you might be worrying more than you need to at this stage, though absolutely a good idea to talk to your union.

It sounds like they are only going to pay statutory maternity leave so you can look up what that gives you on the link they sent. You can’t claim maternity leave until you have a Mat B1 form which won’t be for a few weeks yet so as long as they give you the meeting before then you won’t lose out.

Risk assessment - for an office job you might not have additional risk. I did look at the risk assessment for my work and determined no extra controls or support was needed. If you think there are risks with your pregnancy which could be exacerbated or mitigated through action by your employer then do raise them. If you are not taken seriously, that might be the time to worry.

If I am off sick during pregnancy yes I still need to report this and have a return to work under our usual company processes, but if the absence isn’t pregnancy related, it is not counted towards any triggers for action / warnings. So filling in the form doesn’t sound like a problem, but if they try to tell you your attendance is a concern then that could be.

I’m sure someone with more knowledge can elaborate further but just wanted to flag that there isn’t necessarily much that needs to be done by 13 weeks, you have a while yet.

Sorry if the absence IS pregnancy related it’s not counted for triggers.

Thanks @AryaNoOne
As I said after speaking to my Midwife, she was shocked that noone has had a meeting with me yet hence why I chased it.
As it's our first baby, I obviously don't know what to and what not to expect if that makes sense.
x

Yes of course, it is hard to know what is usual. I’m 33 weeks now and I applied for maternity leave a few weeks ago - 24ish maybe? It’s all been processed since then and payroll have sent me a letter to say what I will be paid and when I am due back based on what I asked for, so it didn’t take that long.

My midwife has never asked me about work or finances but I guess it’s slightly different everywhere. I hope you get the reassurance you’d like soon from your work or union.

Just as a comparison, I work in public sector and people are constantly pregnant. I told them at about 12 weeks and got a generic response letter straight away but only have a meeting this week (23 weeks) and they only want my mat b1 four weeks before I plan to start maternity. I'm office based and haven't had any risk assessment. So, I wouldn't worry too much about not having had a meeting yet. At the same time, is definitely worth keeping on at them about it. In terms of sickness, they still record using same forms - but as someone else had said, it does contribute to any sickness triggers. Hope you get some answers soon!

Also an office based job here.. my immediate manager has been very accommodating with flexible working/less travel etc but the company didn't do much. I let HR know, gave them my MATB1 whenever you get that (24 weeks?) with the date I wanted to start maternity leave and that was it.. no meetings or anything.

My last day is next week and obviously my boss is aware but haven't had anything from HR. I actually should probably ask if they want laptop / phone back etc

I would say if you're uncomfortable at your desk or aren't being given time off for antenatal appointments / maternity leave is unclear it's worth pushing for a meeting but otherwise I'm not sure there's much they can say!

Hi, if your company is small then they are probably just getting advice to make sure that the policies are correct before communicating it with you. They don’t need to specifically meet with you discuss your pregnancy unless you ask them to. As for a risk assessment there is no requirement. If they don’t have a maternity policy yet they might be trying to formulate the terms, this could be positive as it might mean they will pay you higher than SMP!

I had risk assessments done each month but that was about it. After so Many weeks I had a letter congratulating me from the business and asking for my MATB1 form when I had it given and that was basically it.

Don’t expect any special treatment or anything, in the meeting they will say you can take a break away from your desk if you feel you need to and if you work in a production centre you won’t be able to go out into the warehouse or factory for health and safety reasons

You're 13 weeks, not really sure what you're expecting?
I work for a major PLC and although I told them very early on as I was sick at work, I didn't get any formal communication until 24 weeks, even then it was just a quick chat with HR to tell me to fill a form in about my dates.
Their mat policy will be in your contract, if it's SMP then that what you'll get and everyone is entitled to a year off, by law, 9 months if that will be paid.
Just give them your MATB1 when you get it.
I think you're making more out of this than you need to.

I agree. I think you're over thinking this and worrying about nothing.
There's very little that can be done if you're 13 weeks pregnant.
I'm 31 weeks and my workplace have only just started acknowledging I'm pregnant and getting the ball rolling!

I understand that your pregnancy is your first, second, third, fourth and fifth thing on your mind. But it definitely isn't for anyone else!

It will all fall into place!

Thank you @AryaNoOne, @Keha, @ELM8, @LH1987 for your advice and kind words. xx

I think what has thrown me is the fact they threw the 'noone has been pregnant for 20 years' at me, which made me feel like I am a burden. I totally get being pregnant isn't the highlight of my employer's existence or number one priority but anyone that works in a small company / office knows what the culture can be like and how it can make you feel.

If it makes you feel any better I'm 31 weeks and still haven't had a risk assessment.

My boss has been a bit useless tbh she hasn't followed any of the things she should have been doing from her POV as a line manager (from what I have read in the maternity policy).

I have done all I can (informed in writing, handed in MATB1 on time, filled out ML1 Form and sent to manager stating start date of mat leave and how long I wish to take, etc.).

If it weren't for me chasing anything I don't think I'd have been kept in the loop at all, and as a first timer myself I am a bit clueless!

I am currently signed off work and think I will end up being signed off until my mat leave kicks in at 36 weeks, so won't be going back. I've had no meetings with my manager or HR.

Stay persistent but professional with any emails you send. Keep a trail of all communication in case anything goes wrong with your pay etc you have evidence you've chased everything up and done all you can as the employee to make sure everything is good to go.

X

@anonnancy Thank you so much, that has put my mind at ease abit.

I literally thought from some of the comments that I was the only person who has had these issues with their manager / company.

Sorry to hear you've had the issues and are signed off, hope you are better soon and good luck with the bubba xx

My boss knew from early on and was supportive but no meetings until I had my MATB1 which I got around 24 weeks. This confirms to your employers your pregnancy and due date. You dont actually have to tell them until 15 weeks before due so it's not unusual for nothing to be done at an early stage. Once MATB1 was in we had a meeting where I was asked when I wanted to start mat leave, advised that my company assume you will take the full year off but obviously you can contact them if you wish to come back earlier and just confirmed that the pay was SMP, no enhanced package. Pretty basic stuff.

Please, please, please join a trade union just so you have representation, advice and legal protection should you need it. I'm sure your employer is lovely, and even if that's the case then you will have access to good support and advice with a trade union.

You can find out what kind of union will best suit your needs here: www.tuc.org.uk/join-union

Sadly, the number of women being illegally discriminated against and managed out of employment following pregnancy, even though this is illegal, has risen dramatically.

A 2016 report found around 390,000 new mothers experience some form of pregnancy discrimination at work every year. 54,000 of these women said they were forced to leave their job because of how they were treated during their pregnancy, maternity leave or after they returned to work.

And over half of the women surveyed said they’d experienced discrimination as a direct result of agreeing a flexible working plan.

More here: www.tuc.org.uk/blogs/dinosaur-work-cultures-are-forcing-thousands-new-mums-out-work

@WorldEndingFire Thank you. I am with a Union who are aware of the situation.