Redundancy

[Eleanor1000]

I informed my boss that I was pregnant last week and was then told straight after that they wanted to make me redundant. I was planning to return to work after the pregnancy, and it will be hard to find a job afterwards. They are saying a settlement (possibly £20k) might be offered and that it is not worth challenging them legally. They say it is so they can hire someone with better skills tho they are happy with my work. I've been there since August 2010.

I'd be really grateful for some advice or if anyone could suggest a lawyer to me

Eleanor.

The fact that they are offering you a settlement sounds as if they know that what they are doing is dodgy. I would suggest contacting ACAS - they have a free helpline and loads of information online and I have always found them to be friendly and helpful.

Speak to acas. They can't make you redundant after you have told them you are pregnant. An advance settlement does sound dodgy.
I assume you are not still under probation..?
Contact also the maternity alliance or see their very informative website.
Contact the citizens advice bureau for legal aid and lawyer contacts to support your case etc if you decide to go the employment tribunal way.
Hth. This is becoming worryingly common and bugs the life out of me. I was in your shoes last summer...see posts in employment/redundancy...had to fight tooth and nail to keep my job, and I did - fight and keep my job that is.
Good luck!

They're not making your redundant by the sounds of it. They make the post redundant not you so can't hire someone else back into it. Likley they'll offer you a compromise agreement.

Tell them to go swivel.

They can't make you redundant after you have told them you are pregnant

Oh yes they can. However, they cannot use your pregnancy as the reason to select you for redundancy. Given the sequence of events here I think there is a reasonable chance the tribunal would find that the redundancy was due to your pregnancy.

If they have any sense they will want you to sign a compromise agreement, basically saying you agree not to sue them in return for the settlement offered. That is only valid if you have received proper legal advice, so normally your employer would pay for you to consult an employment lawyer of your choice.

Hi

Thank you all for your comments, I have spoken to acas and they said I could be made redundant despite being pregnant but that the way they were going about it without consultation meant I could file a grievance. They have asked me to come in and keep changing what they said and have been shouting at me about it on the phone. Do you think I should bring someone when I meet them - they keep saying I should wait to 'hear' what they have to offer before speaking to a lawyer?

Are you part of a union? Take a rep with you..if not take a colleague who can sit in a meeting with your consent and make notes.