Pregnancy/redundancy…help

[PregnantNowScrewed]

My boss took me for lunch last week and told me the firm would be starting a redundancy process later this year at my level but that I didn’t have anything to worry about.

Literally the day after we had this conversation I found out I’m pregnant.

Of the people at my level I am also the most recently employed (will have been there 2 years in Sept but have a 3 month notice period so reckon I will get over the 2 year mark by the time this “process” starts). I’m really worried that they will make me redundant due to my pregnancy (without admitting this obviously).

Is there anything I can do or say to protect myself? All of my performance reviews have been excellent, I was promoted in January, and I’ve obviously made notes of the conversation with my boss where he said it wouldn’t be me.

I’m the main breadwinner and we have 2 other kids so this would be absolutely disastrous.

So what are the others currently doing ..? Was this change in level of work due to business circumstances?
They could also create a 'deputy' role to keep you if they wished, or something else entirely.
Your main concern I suppose is just get maternity pay?
If they were such a fair, family friendly place you wouldn't be worried about being selected due to pregnancy

Essentially the company is less busy than expected and there is less work to go round.

Yes, I want to get my maternity pay and have a job to return to after mat leave. And then decide what to do next I guess. I’m the breadwinner so if I don’t get maternity pay I’d only be able to afford to take about 3 months off, whereas my current package is 6 months full pay.

I don't think there's anything you can do about it unfortunately.
You've been told that you won't be affected, and you have had excellent performance reviews. However your colleagues may also be good performers.there is nothing to stop them from making you redundant following fair principles that have been followed similarly across the business.
.you're right to keep quiet about being pregnant... And who knows, this potential redundancy situation may never happen anyway.

Even if it does, you may be able to negotiate an enhanced package that covers you for maternity leave, allowing you to get a new job after.

Edit - actually, it's a hard one!

If they select you for redundancy before you announce your pregnancy you don't have a case for discrimination.

However... Do you think they might get rid of you via other means? If they do, they'd be in trouble.

It really depends on what you think they'll do. They can't just fire you even though you've been there under two years, if you have good performance reviews etc.

https://www.acas.org.uk/dismissals/unfair-dismissal

Ive been thinking about it non stop and I can’t think of any reason my boss would tip me off like this if he genuinely didn’t want to keep me. The lack of work is very apparent and I think he spoke to me because he’s worried that I will look for another job of my own accord - he was basically saying hang on in there because there will be more stuff for me to do once they come out the other side of this “process”.

But while influential he’s obviously not the sole decision maker and there will be other people in the senior team who have more loyalty to the people who have been there longer. As the most recent joiner and with no statutory right to redundancy pay (for another 4 months) I can see that objectively marks my card.

I think I will wait until after 12 weeks at least - I’m 37 so there’s a good chance this pregnancy won’t even work out - and then probably tell them in the autumn. It would be pretty bad for them reputationally as they made quite a song and dance about hiring me and it would make them look shit in the market, so perhaps as you say I can try to negotiate a good package.

I had some dark times over the weekend thinking I should terminate but feeling a bit more positive now.

Good to hear you're feeling more positive OP. I'll just add as well, terminating a much wanted baby is unlikely to solve much in the event you're made redundant (unless the latter happens long before your due date). In the worst case scenario you might have to return to work earlier instead of the full year.
.good luck with everything hope it works out in the best possible way

just so you know you’re not the only one - I was made redundant and had only been working for a company for 3 months. Previous jobs before that had ended as well. Not sure why they hired me in the first place! I hadn’t even told them I was pregnant as I was only about 8 weeks. I’ve now had about 4-5 unsuccessful interviews so far and applied for 32 jobs. Pretty vile situation to be in! I’m nearly 15 weeks now and soon won’t be able to hide it. Thankfully my husband can pay our bills but doesn’t help with saving for a house of our own and the fact that this was a crucial year for keeping up my work experience. I’m just going to keep applying - what more can I do! I’m 30 and my biological clock won’t last forever so when I had the previous job we thought we were doing the right thing as we can’t wait any longer. Clearly it was the will of God that it should happen anyway!