Redundancy announcement at my work place and I am pregnant

[Yut87]

Hi all,

I need some advice. I am 29 weeks pregnant. My work has been notified, and I need to submit my Matb1 to them when I receive it this week.

However, today, my work lot announced redundancies. They are seeking to make 19 people redundant. They have launched voluntary redundancies first, and then, if the number has not been met, they will select individuals.

I am worried. How will this impact my maternity pay? What if I am made redundant? Can I apply for jobs now or wait till the baby has been born? I was planning on going on maternity leave at the end of December 2024 and only going for 8 weeks as 6 weeks is paid in full, and the rest drops to 50%. But now I am thinking of extending my maternity leave and simply applying for jobs during that time. The notice period for leaving my workplace after receiving Mat pay is 3 months.

I am in a dilemma. I have a mortgage and a baby on the way. My husband works, but his salary covers the mortgage and bills. My salary is used for savings, the car monthly payments, and groceries.

My husband is telling me to stay put and just deal with the situation when it arrives. But I cannot help but feel very anxious. Please share some advice on what I should do.

What country are you in? That will effect advise. In some countries, Ireland being one of them it is illegal to make someone redundant while pregnant or on maternity leave.

You should start reading up on pregnant then screwed page, a lot of practical advice

pregnantthenscrewed.com/redundancy/

You are protected due to being pregnant if you are in the UK. You could be made redundant if your whole department was going, but you couldn't be selected if only some are going.

If you’re in the UK it’s very unlikely you’ll be made (legally) redundant unless they’re getting rid of your entire department and/or everyone at your grade.

If you qualify for SMP you will still be entitled to it as you are over 25 weeks pregnant.

That's not quite the full picture.

You can be selected, if you meet the selection criteria. But you cannot be made redundant just because you are pregnant. And the criteria must be fair and reasonable and apply in the same way to everyone whose position is being considered.

Also if you are pregnant and your role becomes redundant, and there is an alternative role for you in the company for which you are qualified, it must be offered to you ahead of any other candidates (even if they are well qualified for it)

Yes I am in the UK.

Exactly as @EdithWeston describes.

If you're in the UK you'll be entitled to the maternity pay as per your employers maternity benefits.

A colleague of mine was made redundant during his wife's pregnancy. His last day was just a few weeks before she gave birth. He's got paid 6 months paternity pay as that is what the employer pays.

I however, did not qualify for maternity pay as there was more than 15 weeks left before my last day.

If you have been there more than two years and you are allowed to find out what they will offer you for voluntary without quitting, do that. Then you can make a decision as to whether it’s enough to buy you more maternity leave, especially as at 8 weeks old it’s very hard to get childcare.

you should be protected, but deciding on your best interests is easier with facts.

It happened to me OP, also in the UK. I was pregnant and made redundant based on other criteria. The company can easily make the right criteria to get the results they want. I did find another job while pregnant and started there before going on maternity leave. I only got the statutory maternity pay as I wasn’t in continuous employment.

It’s scandalous that this is allowed, and I know there has been a proposal to ban it in parliament but it hasn’t changed yet.

I really hope they have some moral responsibility and do not do this to you.

I went through a big redundancy process whilst on maternity leave. I found Maternity Action to be helpful in advising me, both via info on their website and on the phone. maternityaction.org.uk/advice/redundancy-during-pregnancy-and-maternity-leave/

Obviously they are not allowed to use your pregnancy as a reason to make you redundant. You actually have some additional rights, because you are pregnant www.acas.org.uk/redundancy-protection-for-pregnancy-and-new-parents

Your statutory maternity pay will be calculated from your earnings in your qualification week (Sunday-Saturday, 15 weeks before your due date), so you’ve already worked that. So you will get SMP for 39 weeks regardless of what happens at work.

I have been with them for over 2 years. My 3rd year will start in April 2025. They only offer Statutory Redundancy Pay according to their policy.

@Yut87 Once you are past the 15th week before your EWC your employer is required to pay all of your SMP. If you are made redundant and your last day of employment is 12 weeks into your SMP, they still have to pay the remaining 27 weeks. They can pay it in a lump sum.

WRT your Occupational Mat Pay, they only have to pay this to your last day of employment. Basically your redundancy pay takes over.

You would also be entitled to be paid for any accrued annual leave, plus your notice and statutory redundancy.

At this stage apply for Mat leave as normal but have a chat with HR about the end date first. Your idea of going for a longer mat leave end date makes sense as you could always ask to come back earlier.

If you are made redundant then opt for 39 weeks mat leave so you get all the SMP to tide you over.

Not sure why they think anyone will go for voluntary if even that is the minimum. In that case, sit tight.

Submit your matb asap - as a pregnant woman you’re likely to be more protected than your colleagues. If they choose you don’t delay and get straight onto an employment law specialist. Some law firms will give you a half hour consultation for free. Look after yourself - it’s stressful and it should be a wonderful exciting happy time! I hope you have some support.

Lots of companies have a formal policy of statutory but can chose to offer enhanced terms for particular programmes. Just means they are not tied into any enhanced package.

Thank you everyone for your advice.