Reduced hours from corona...can they do this?

[Firsttimemummasept2020]

Hi all

Really need advice and positive thoughts.

I'm 14 weeks today and just been told everyone at work is only allowed to work 50% of their contracted hours and therefore paid 50% because of the covid impact for 3 months.

Is this legal for pregnant women? I'm terrified, haven't stopped crying since Monday at the thought of isolation for my whole second trimester.

They've also put previous stress on me with suggesting to change my role (which I fought off!) but so stressful. I really don't know what to do with myself to stop worrying for baby's sake.

I’m afraid it likely is legal if they want everyone to have a job at the end of it

I know it awful but what else do you expect them to do? They cannot afford to pay. If everyone insisted on having full pay they'd go bankrupt and then NOONE would have a job would they?

Businesses dont enjoy doing this FGS, its awful, but we have no choice. We cant magic money from out of nowhere I'm afraid

A lot of companies are making these decisions to stay open.

They are reducing everyone hours, not just yours so no laws from what I understand are broken. If you kept the hours and everyone had to reduce, I think the company would be on rocky ground.

Exactly what @fswhatnext said.

If they were only saying this to you, you'd have a case for pregnancy discrimination. But if theyre saying it to everyone, you dont have a leg to stand on I'm afraid because they are treating you exactly the same as every other employee so no discrimination there.

Speak to your Hr team as this could very well end up affecting your maternity pay.
Ask them which weeks they will use to determine your mat pay and contact ACAS or Maternity Action for advice

Campurp, thank you that's helpful

I am in exactly the same position as you. However they are cutting my salary by 20% and reducing my days to 4 days. This could however lead to redundancy if the business struggles even more. It really is not something we need at an already stressful time. It seems like some businesses are just taking laying people off as their only option.
I read my contract and it stated there may come a time/s where hours need to be reduced. If it says this in your contract then it is legal. Check your contract, if it doesn’t say anything then get some advice from citizens advice.