just been made redundant

[beakas]

I am 16 weeks pregnant and was told yesterday that because the company I work for is suffering I will probably be made redundant at the end of May or June. They do know I'm pregnant but apparently it doesn't matter as I'm the only employee in the company and if it's a choice between getting rid of me or closing the business then they have to lose me first.
Has come as a real shock and I'm really upset. Obviously I won't be able to get another job but I wondered if anyone else has had similar experiences, or knows whether I may be entitled to anything..I was planning on starting my maternity leave mid-end of August but that choice has been taken from me.Any help would be gratefully received, thankyou.

dunno
bummer
sorry

beakas sorry to hear that, not the news you need at the moment really with a baby on the way.

It is perfectly ok for a company to make someone redundant if they are pregnant as long as it's a fair decision, which this obviously is, and which you obviously do understand.

In terms of your rights, if you are still employed by the 15th week before your due date, then you will be entitled to statutory maternity pay. It sounds as though you might not be though, if you go when you say you might be. Worth bearing that in mind though, work out when 15 weeks before your due date is, your redundancy might well be delayed a bit you never know.

If that doesn't happen and you are not entitled to SMP, you will probably be entitled to Maternity Allowance, which isn't quite as good, but it's not far off. Once you get quite heavily pregnant, you may also be entitled to Incapacity Benefit for a few weeks at least before and after your due date, it's abut £50-£60 ish a week I think, but find out about that.

thanks so much flowery, will check it out now xx

have just counted the weeks back and end of June (when they now say I will be leaving, potentially) is exactly 15 weeks before due date. Coincidence? I have looked at a couple of websites and it says that I should contact HM revenue and customs if the company goes into liquidation, etc.

beakas the wording for qualification for SMP is that you must have been employed into the qualifying week, which is the 15th week before the week your baby is due.

The week goes from Sunday to Monday. You will be given a MATB1 by your midwife which will say that your Expected Week of Childbirth is week commencing xxx date. SO if you are due on, say, 5th October, which for example might be a Tuesday, your Expected Week of Childbirth would be the week commencing 3rd October which would be the Sunday. So the 15th week before that week would be the date you are looking at. If you are still employed at the beginning of the 15th week before, then you are fine. It's a bit complicated I know.

It may well be a coincidence. Many employers would assume that if a woman isn't still employed then she doesn't get maternity pay, so unless they've taken advice or are very knowledgeable it might well be a coincidence.

If the company does go into liquidation you should contact HMRC, as you may find you are one of many people/companies who are owed money.

You are brilliant, thankyou so much for such detailed information, I really appreciate your help.x

You can also claim contribution based jobseekers allowance, and claim on any PPI you may have.

Good luck