About to loose my job - advice needed

[MissScarlett888]

I am currently undergoing a performance management procedure at work. My probationary period has been extended twice and at the last official meeting where it was extended for the second time I was told that it is unusual for it to be extended twice and that it is highly unlikely to be extended again.

I agree that I have not been performing to the required standard and I don't think that I am going to be able to achieve the required standard within the time remaining - I havn't really tried, I don't have the energy or motivation and I hate my job - so I have accepted the fact that I will be out of a job soon.

The thing I really need advice about is whether or not I will qualify for SMP. I am currently 21 weeks pregnant and I expect to finish work on 2nd or 3rd November - taking into account when the review period comes to an end, the time it will take to organise an official meeting and my notice period. Every time I try to work out when the 15th week before my expected due date is I end up either with either this week or the week after. I am worried that I am just going to miss out. My due date is 19th Feb can anyone confirm whether or not I will qualify for SMP?

Also is it better to jump or wait to be pushed? Don't know what impact it will have on:
a. Ability to claim job seekers allowance before I start maternity leave
b. Looking for a new job in the future
c. My emotional health (not sure if I can cope with another formal review meeting especially when I know that it will end in my contract being terminated.)

Any advice gratefully received.

I work out that the 15th week before the week your baby is due is the week commencing 31st October. So as long as you have been employed for 26 weeks by then and earn enough, and work at least one day in that week, you will qualify.

When does your probation end? It's just you say about time to organise a meeting, but wouldn't you have a meeting just before or on the day your probation is due to end? Then at that meeting it would either be extended again or your employment would be terminated. What makes you think they'd allow you to work beyond the end of your probation, that's my only concern with your timings.

I don't know any of the rules around JSA. In terms of looking for a new job obviously the concern is a reference. Are they likely to give a good reference either way though? I would probably address that with them when you either resign or are dismissed - see if they would just give dates of employment or whatever rather than commenting on performance.

Thanks for your reply.

I worked the dates out from the timings involved when my probationary period was extended last time. On the day the my probation was due to end I had a meeting with my manager, they said that I had not met the required standards so a meeting had to be arranged with HR. This then took a few days to arrange as they have to notify me in writing and give me time to arrange for someone to accompany me if I wished. I got the impression that this could not be arranged before the end of the probationary period as they had to wait untill the end of the period to see if I had improved or not.

I also thought that even if they terminate my contract they would still have to give me notice. Also due to the nature of the job I think they would need a notice period for me to hand over work I have done and show others how to do the things I am responsible for.
Although not a nice experience the whole process has been carried out professionally and amically so far so I don't think they would have any reason for asking me to leave immediately and paying me in lieu of notice.

I think I will probably resign when it gets to the point of them arranging an official meeting. The references are factual references done by HR so if I resign I don't think it will mention performance issues at all. I think the only occasion that it would be mentioned is in the reason for leaving section if they chose to end my employment.

Thanks for your help, hopefully I will be able to work for long enough to qualify for SMP and hopefully I will find a more suitable job in the future so I don't find myself in this situation again.