Temp to perm work and pregnancy

[Hippopotas]

Looking at a new job which is 6 months temping then being taken on perm. Wondered where I would stand with maternity leave and pay if I took this role and got pregnant.

Can they refuse to convert me to a perm employee if I get pregnant and can they terminate the temp contract due to pregnancy?

Anyone able to advise?

I was in a temp role and it was a possible perm role after. Once I said I was pregnant they never offered it to go perm. Even if they had I wouldn't have got anything other than the SMP rate.

They can't discriminate as pregnancy is a protected characteristic, but 'temp to perm' is a vague term and pregnancy aside, there is no guarantee that the role will become permanent.

”Can they refuse to convert me to a perm employee if I get pregnant...?”

Not if they otherwise would have done. Obviously there’s no guarantee it would go permanent, but if it could (funds available, post needed, etc etc) and would have done if you weren’t pregnant, they’d have to.

”...and can they terminate the temp contract due to pregnancy?”

Nope.