Returned to old employer. Now pregnant.

[Newuserapril]

I worked for 12 years at Company X.

Left for another job. Lasted 3 weeks as it wasn't the job for me.

Returned to Company X this week.

Just found out I'm 6 weeks pregnant.

Where do I stand on maternity pay?
I am assuming I will get the bare minimum as I am effectively classed as a new starter who has only been with the company for a week so far.

Yes you are a new starter

What does the policy say for a new starter?

Anything above this would be at their discretion

Yes you broke the contract, you are a new starter, previous service would not apply, unless your employer is very generous and will class your employment as continuous service, they won’t be under any legal obligation to do this, but a previous employer did this for me, when I left and returned after a short period of time. Made a big difference to my pension.

Yep you won't be eligible for smp as you were pregnant when starting the job effectively.

Of course she'll be eligible for SMP. She's only 6 weeks.

OP was pregnant when she started, so she’ll be eligible for Maternity Allowance rather than SMP.

She only gets SMP if by 15 weeks before the expected week of childbirth she has worked (continuously) at the company for 26 weeks - so approx 41 weeks. So girlmom21 is wrong.

Yes, you broke your continuity of employment so contractually will be like a new joiner.

You could always ask the company for more, out of goodwill based on your past service!

You can ask if they will do anything better than the statutory minimum for you. If they valued you enough to rehire you, they might.

This ^ worth asking, they may offer an ex gratia payment in the circumstances.

Sorry yes ignore me I'm wrong!

OP go and have a chat with HR. In the CS we would actually restart (remove your end date) your employment and treat the 3 weeks as unpaid special leave. This was actually easier administratively and meant you retained continuity of service.