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Original poster

Made redundant 3 months into maternity

34 replies

raeraekathleen · 11/05/2023 17:10

Hello,

Just wondering if anyone else has been in the same position and if anyone has any advice. I've worked at the same company since leaving school (so 15 years) and was entitled to 9 months 90% pay, but 3 months into maternity I've just been told I'm being made redundant, but others in similar roles are not.

The company was sold in 2018 and again last month whilst on maternity.

The truth is, I know I have been chosen because I'm not in the "clique" with the boss. And I am an easy target being out of the business currently.

Having looked on the internet there isn't much I can do, unless I can prove it's because I was on maternity. But I know that would be almost impossible to prove.

Anyone else ever been in a similar situation? Any advice? Just a bit rubbish that I won't get the worry free maternity I was hoping for. (With my first two children I went back to work too quickly and was really hoping to have a nice break with my little girl and enjoy every second without worrying about work or money).

OP posts:
Aprilx · 12/05/2023 04:30

febrezeme · 12/05/2023 04:21

Being on maternity doesn't mean you can't be made redundant

Quite. There seems to be quite a lot of posters that think it makes them immune. 🙄

CloseCurledLeaf · 12/05/2023 05:05

I was told I was being made redundant too, on maternity leave, or right when I returned. Stupid sods had given my job away to someone else though, and promoted others too, so that was a bit of an error on their part.
Good luck with everything .
Isn’t it funny how often this happens .

Original poster
raeraekathleen · 12/05/2023 05:26

VegetablesFightingToReclaimTheAubergieneEmoji · 11/05/2023 21:59

I was made redundant whilst on maternity. They had to pause the redundancy until the end of my maternity, so at the end of the 9 months statutory pay they had to pay my redundancy and holiday accrued.

may not be applicable to your exact situation so do speak to the people mentioned above.

Thank you that's useful to know I will bear this is mind.

OP posts:
Original poster
raeraekathleen · 12/05/2023 05:27

katmarie · 11/05/2023 22:10

I definitely think you need to get some advice. If there is a restructure going on, everyone affected by that should be included in the consultation. Eg if the marketing dept is going from 6 roles to 1, all of those 6 people should be included in the consultation and all should be at risk equally.

There is no specific exemption for people on mat leave, or shared parental leave, but if they do make you redundant you are entitled to all of your stat maternity pay, over and above your redundancy package.

Do read that link, and then consider talking to one of the groups mentioned for some advice. And have a think about what you want to do next, would you want to go back to work, having been through this? Or would you prefer to move on? Knowing what outcome you want from the situation might help you negotiate your final position.

Thank you, you raise very good points, everyone should be included. Thank you for all your advice! Hopefully it'll be that mat leave is paid then redundancy.

OP posts:
Original poster
raeraekathleen · 12/05/2023 05:33

Shirty48 · 12/05/2023 02:07

Happened to me too, I’m fact 3 out of 4 of the people made redundant in our team were on maternity leave. I was working in HR so knew I could have challenged it but the Head of HR was toxic and I was glad to get out. It was tough as I only got 3 weeks’ notice and statutory maternity pay, paid in a lump sum. I ended up starting a new full time job when DC was 16 weeks old. Leaving was definitely the right decision but I’ll always regret having such little time with DC as a baby.
Where I’ve worked since we’ve always placed women on maternity leave into vacancies ahead of matching other staff to roles. I think it depends whether you want to fight it or just walk away.

I am in a very similar position, in that my boss is toxic as well as his clique, so I'm pleased to get out, just a shame it didn't happen in 6 months time so I could have enjoyed maternity longer, I expect I'll be similar to you and be starting back sooner than I'd have liked so I can secure a job otherwise I'll be worrying the whole time whether I can find something. Thank you for replying with your experience!

OP posts:
Losingweightissohard · 12/05/2023 05:41

I knew someone who this happened to and they got awarded 50k after getting a solicitor. Fight it.

febrezeme · 12/05/2023 06:24

It's perfectly legal to make you redundant so long as the reason for your redundancy is not related to maternity. Yes if they have alternative positions available then the hierarchy means that it should be offered to pregnant/women on maternity first but that by no means they are banned from making you redundant entirely although I can see their motive since 90% pay for 9 months is an incredibly generous much higher than I've seen other companies pay

YukoandHiro · 12/05/2023 06:26

This reply has been deleted

Removed at poster's request due to privacy concerns.

This

Shirty48 · 12/05/2023 07:49

@raeraekathleen Ultimately it worked out well as I took a role in the public sector which over time has proved really flexible. I took 14 months maternity leave/ annual leave with my second child which gave me extra time with DD as well before she went to school. I now work mostly from home so am generally around for when the DC (now teens) are back from school. Hope you find something.

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