If I get pregnant or take maternity leave I will lose my job

[Justacameragirl]

I know this is a naive question, but more and more I think about what my current job will do if I decide to have children. Few months back my workplace got rid of an employee when he was out on sick leave. Three weeks in they openly talked about not being able to keep him on.

So I am a bit scared, I am the only married woman in the office and when my co-worker was let go they were all talking about maternity leave and how they do not think they would have a job if they wanted to take it.

Its a small company, not the best management and has me a bit nervous. I have told my husband I keep putting off the proper family planning til I find a new job or go freelance. the back-story to my job is that I am the only one at the company in my marketing role, the equipment they bought for my role is expensive and if they let me go and say I am no longer needed I kind of feel like they just recreate the job title and take someone else on.

Just makes me uneasy because we are planning on having a family soon but if anything its me stalling with uncertainty.

Women on maternity leave are meant to be the most protected member of the workforce, but it's utter bollocks (can I write that?) I lost very well paid job because I wanted to go part time. Job had been covered by a part timer when I was on mat leave. This was 4 years ago, but still makes me v angry . Trouble is, when you've go a new b aby, do you really want the hassle of fighting such injustice? I'm afraid (or not) to say that I didn't.

No you won't lose your job.

Janpu: You didn't lose your job becuase you were pregnant but from the sounds of it becuase you wanted to go part time. These are not the same issue.

Just becuase your mat leave was covered by a part timer doesn't mean they have to let you do the job part time.

The rules are the rules and they work well. Pregnant women are protected in many ways but I get fed up of people thinking that because they have kids all employers must give them what they want. It doesn't work like that.

Seeyoukay, in what ways are people protected is what I am asking. I do not want to just go on the assumption that I will keep my job and actually get maternity leave only to find out that my boss sacks me either when I leave for ML or shortly after me telling them I am pregnant.. and then there is nothing I can do.

Just - your existing job is protected by law if you go on mat leave. And you are supposed to be first in line for any available jobs if there are redundancies while you are on mat leave.

But there are plenty of employers who ignore the law and do as they please, and it would then be up to you to bring a tribunal case to get compensation. And there is no legal aid for this.

Unfortunately, what should happen by law and what actually happens are often two very different things. And tribunals oftn rule in favour of the employer even if they have broken the law.

In your position I would not want to go back to work for this company anyway if they are so child unfriendly. Look for another job during mat leave or as soon as possible after the end of mat leave. I promise you this lot will make your life a misery if you don't.