Is this maternity discrimination?

[Sumsummer]

I work for an agency and have been working in the same place for 4 months. It has been booked at long term but I also work at other places aswell when needed.

My agency have known I'm pregnant since 24 weeks and they have said its up to me if I want to tell the placement but it would be beneficial so that they can do a risk assessment.

I decided to tell them last week (29 weeks pregnant) and they congratulated me. Afterwards they told me that they would normally do a risk assessment but for me its just to not do any heavy lifting. Then they said that they have asked to the agency to find someone else if they can as they need consistency but it might be hard as I'm the only one that wants to work these kinds of hours.

So, I'm pretty sure that they would've kept me on longer term if I didn't tell them I was pregnant.

If my agency vaguely says that they have decided they no longer need me anymore would I be able to say that its maternity discrimination as they would've kept me if I wasn't pregnant.

I only have 6 weeks until I go on maternity and they couldn't even tell I was pregnant, my work hasn't suffered and I've been quite fit throughout this whole time.

Also, I'm pretty sure I have extra agency rights once I've been at a placement for over 12 weeks.

TIA

Hi OP. They are supposed to do a risk assessment regardless.

are you contracted to a certain amount of hours or is it a 0 hour contract?

By them saying they’re looking to find someone else, do they mean they’re letting you go?

if this is the case they absolutely cannot do that. Yes they can find more staff to help if needs be, but that should be in place so they have extra hands on shifts and so you’re not left at risk

do you work in a care role? If so, they should also be risk assessing infection control, working with unpredictable behaviours etc.

I’ve also edited this post so I can attach this link for citizens advice. It highlights examples of maternity discrimination. Citizens advice

I'm booked for the same amount of days and hours each week and its until further notice. So I just turn up for work without needing to discuss if I am due to work as its expected for me to be there.

They have funding for me so they would be replacing me with someone doing the same time and funded hours.

Its only because I'm pregnant that they would be replacing me before I go on mat leave.

The only thing keeping me there, I think, is that either my agency know its maternity discrimination so havent tried to find someone else yet or that there is no one who wants to do these awkward hours.

I have a zero hours contract with the agency but this placement is ongoing with the same amount of hours.

@Sumsummer in my opinion that’s discrimination. They can’t let you go just because you’re pregnant, at any point, even on mat leave. They should be making adjustments to your work role to minimise your risk, not just letting you go and finding someone else.

you need to put in writing to management regarding this. It is absolutely discrimination.

Also, if after writing a letter it isn’t resolved or you feel they just fob you off, I’d be going to a tribunal.

Have a chat with Pregnant then Screwed, they should be able to advise the specifics around agency work