Fixed term contract maternity leave and contract renewal

[Mangopassionfruit]

Hello! Slightly complicated one but would love any advice if anyone knows about my rights or has gone through similar.

I am currently maternity leave cover on fixed term contract due to end on 31st March 2020. I am pregnant and due May 2020. I know I qualify for SMP which my employer has confirmed which is great but just wondering about my rights in terms of them continuing my employment.

Before I told them I was pregnant they kept telling me how much they wanted to keep me but that has clearly stopped since I have told them. Doing some research it looks like they have to offer me any alternative vacancies because I will be going on mat leave (which I could technically start on/before my contract end date). There is definitely at least one vacancy as one person who is on mat leave and due to come back when my contract ends isn’t coming back. But there are two of us in the same role as 2 people from same role went on mat leave at same time and both our contracts are up for at the same time. So I am just wondering about this.

I am quite worried as our mortgage is due for renewal 4 months into my mat leave and so if I am technically unemployed it’s going to be really hard to renew or get a good rate as we are reliant on both our salaries. This wouldn’t be an issue if I wasn’t pregnant and going on mat leave so I was just wondering if I had any rights.

Hope this makes sense! Thank you!

Hmmm more research makes me think whatever I saw about them having to offer me an alternative wasn’t correct, can anyone confirm this? Clutching at straws!

It’s silly because in no way have they implied they won’t be keeping me but I’m losing sleep over the mortgage thing!

The info you've read probably relates to being made redundant on maternity leave? They won't make you redundant, it'll be a standard dismissal due to end of contract.

If your mortgage is going to increase and you don't think you can afford it on the standard variable rate why don't you investigate remortgaging now? Although you may find they won't accept your salary anyway as it's only fixed term until march.

They don’t have to offer you an alternative. However they do have to give you access to vacancies, and they cannot decide not to renew your contract because of your pregnancy if they otherwise would have.

Apply for the permanent vacancy. If there are two of you in FTC doing the same job both coming to an end you should be considered equally and your maternity leave should not be a factor. In fact if you are the best candidate they could hire both of you- you as permanent, your other FTC colleague as your maternity cover!