When to tell the boss....

[Scroobius]

Hi, I?m new and just wanted a bit of advice....
I?m coming up for 12 weeks now, go for my first scan next week BUT I?m only on a temporary contract at work. It is sort of an ongoing temp contract but only renewed 6 months at a time. My contract comes up for renewal at the beginning of October and I?m guessing my qualifying week for maternity pay will be the middle of November some time. Anyway the advice I?m looking for is when to tell my manager that I?m pregnant.
As I?m a temp worker, even if I wait until after my contract is renewed, it means I can be let go with a month?s notice anyway but I?m not sure I can hide it until my qualifying week. I know I don?t get maternity leave but could really do with the 6 weeks of 90% wage I?d get by making it until then without being sacked. Just wondering what everyone thinks the situation would be considering I?ve been given amazing reviews of my work and if they got rid of me they would have to recruit to replace me? As I?m a temp would I have any recourse through unfair undismissal etc?

When did your first contract start?

My first contract started in February.

Unfortunately you don't have enough service to claim unfair dismissal if they don't renew your contract. If you'd had four x six month contracts = 2 years service then you might have been able to argue unfair dismissal had they then not renewed - but on a second 6 month contract I don't think you'd have a leg to stand on, no.

In terms of SMP it's entirely your choice when go tell them - whether you're showing or not.

Good luck, though.

If it was me, in your circs I would keep schtum until either it's so obvious they guess or your until after your contract is renewed, and I'd be hoping for the latter.

You can claim unfair dismissal from day one if the reason for dismissal is pregnancy, so if they were to terminate for no good reason mid-term or not renew when they clearly otherwise would have, you would have grounds for complaint.

Thanks for the advice guys. I think I'll probably try and hold off saying anything as long as possible; I suppose until I say something noone will know for certain anyway even if they have an idea.

Don't tell them.

Yes you could still claim unfair dismissal if you could prove it was maternity discrimination but an employment tribunal is a stressful experience and takes a long time! Far better to start wearing baggy tops / take lots of holiday etc and front it out!

Thanks, I wasn't thinking so much that I would go through with anything to do with unfair dismissal more that it's a pretty big company who would have to do things by the book so if I knew the position it might give me a better idea of what they would be likely to do.