Fixed term contract, on probation, am just pregnant

[Verrucapepper]

Can anyone advise please? Been there since September, contract for 18 months only, just found out am 4 weeks pregnant, am on probation for 6 months. Will I be entitled to maternity pay? Is that statutory? What happens if I return after 6 months? WFH so they won’t know I’m pregnant until I tell them iyswim. Can’t ask HR as the lady is best friends with my boss and can’t find out any other way. I feel very guilty as have been trying to get pregnant for a long time and had given up!

To be entitled you have to:

To qualify for SMP you must:

earn on average at least £120 a week
give the correct notice
give proof you’re pregnant
have worked for your employer continuously for at least 26 weeks continuing into the ‘qualifying week’ - the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth

If you don’t qualify you maybe able to get this directly from the government. It’s called maternity allowance. This you may need to look into as if you have only worked for your employer since September, it looks like you may not of worked for your employer long enough (depending on your start date and due date) to go the 15th week before your due.

Congratulations on the pregnancy. X

Thank you. I will have been working for them to qualify for SMP but do you know if I will qualify for their maternity package (I think it’s 90% monthly salary-it’s education) because I’m only on a fixed term contract?

That would depend on what is written in the policies. Is there a company handbook or employee policies. I believe companies can state how long you need to work for them before you qualify etc. Could you maybe ask HR for a copy of the overall policies so you aren’t singling one out? X

Adding to what Hollie posted.

Your policy will specify the conditions for occupational maternity pay. I've worked in organisations which specify a minimum length of employment and also a minimum return to work period.

Thanks. Sounds like I will need to ask HR for their maternity policy after all.

@Verrucapepper

Thanks. Sounds like I will need to ask HR for their maternity policy after all.

Is there any rush? If you’ve only been employed a few weeks, I’d probably want to get my feet under the table a bit more before indicating I’m pregnant or might be pregnant.

My company had a 2 year policy so you will find that’s likely the case xx

You might as well ask HR. It's not like the answer will change the fact that you're already pregnant.
The sooner you know what your employment and financial status will be, the sooner you can start planning.

If it is a 2 year policy, which I suspect, do they have to take me back after 6 months leave even though there’ll only be a couple months until the end of my contract?

@Verrucapepper

If it is a 2 year policy, which I suspect, do they have to take me back after 6 months leave even though there’ll only be a couple months until the end of my contract?

A company’s policy about maternity pay makes absolutely no difference to an employee’s right to return after maternity leave. That is a statutory right. You are entitled to return to your existing job, or, if you’ve taken longer than six months off, to a suitable alternative if it is not reasonably practicable for them to put you back in your original job.

@Verrucapepper

Thanks. Sounds like I will need to ask HR for their maternity policy after all.

Ask for the family handbook which covers maternity along with parental leave, adoption leave, carer leave, independent leave on and on or search your intranet.