help with employment issue please

[bumpsnowjustplump]

I am working part time and have done so for about a year. I am on a 0 hour contract but have worked regular hours since I started. I have just announced that I am pregant and am worried that the company will cut my hours and that they can do this as I am on a 0 hour contract.

My friend has said that I may ba able to show that I have been discriminated against by proving that I have been doing regular hours since I started and that these hours were cut as soon as i announced my pregancy..

Anyone got any advice? It may never happen but if it does forewarned is forearmed and all that

thank you

You can't suffer a detriment because of your pregnancy, no. So if they cut your hours specifically because of your pregnancy and it is clear they wouldn't have done so otherwise, you can complain.

Why would they want you to work less hours because of your pregnancy though?

Thank you flowery. I was a little concerned about the 0 hour element and the fact that any maternity pay i am due will be based on the previous x amount of weeks before i went on maternity leave. Therefore if I had fewer hours then I would get a reduced maternity pay, I am probably worrying about nothing but I really love the job i do and we really need the money..

Your SMP is based on your pay over approximately weeks 18 - 25 of your pregnancy, just so you know. Your employer can claim virtually all your SMP back from HMRC though, or even over 100% of it if they are a small employer, if that reassures you at all.

I'm sure it will be fine, but if you have evidence of regular hours that will help if there is a sudden drop that can't be explained by a drop in business or whatever.

If you love your job I'm sure you are committed and highly regarded so there's probably no need to be concerned at all. :)