what can i do if anything?

[nightowl]

ive worked for the same company for 10 years. five years ago they employed another girl to help with my job. there are only the two of us that do this job, which i trained her for. i went on maternity leave in january and they had agreed to me going back part time. the company has just gone under and weve all been made redundant but theyve given this girl a job with the new company and not me. can they do this?

We'll be watching and hoping for good things.

nightowl,
Sorry to hear that this has happened to you. Some people are just bs aren't they?

I have a couple of links for you which may give you some more info to arm yourself with. Mainly about your entitlements re employment.

HTH

Definitely look at the DTI website also compact law and free lawyer

Agree with everyone else that making you redundant when your on maternity leave is a very dodgy business legally. As well as being downright underhanded.

Gits!

BR

hi all, just an update. its not looking good at all im afraid. saw this "specialist" at CAB today and he basically said that from his and everyone elses point of view it was clear that what they did was wrong. but...he is of the opinion that it is in fact, legal. he admitted that hed never come across a case like this before and is getting back to me in a week after he has spoken to a solicitor collegue but im not getting my hopes up. part of me wants to just forget that place existed anyway. theyve hurt me beyond belief. because i basically had a moan about the boss to a friend there (who went straight to them and repeated what i said, which just for the record was not bad at all) im banned from the office, not allowed to pick up my personal possessions, banned from phoning the office and have been refused a reference. i know it must look like i did something terrible to receive this kind of treatment but i honestly did not. ive started to have nightmares that every single friend i have is stabbing me in the back and wont speak to me anymore. it wouldnt be so bad but it was a small company and i always got on really well with everyone there and spent hours of my free time doing things to help them out. its personal you know? theyve even admitted that they got rid of me because i have children and theres nothing at all i can do! it stinks, it really does. i at least wanted to stop them from doing this to someone again and causing them the distress theyve caused me but sadly its not going to happen.

Sorry to hear that

its my chance for a new start. these things come to test us i guess! theres no point me being upset anymore...it wont change a thing. i hope something positive will come of this!

Put everything in a letter to the boss. Ask them to forward your personal possessions if they won't let you collect them. Confirm in the letter what they've said about you having children. Then later, if you do decide to take things further, you have some documentary evidence of what has happened.