Has anyone been made redundant while pregnant?

[AGD]

Hi. I'm doing a writing course and am researching an article for an assignment on being made redundant when pregnant (like I was in January).

Has anyone been in this situation? I am looking for mums-to-be/mums willing to share their experience with me who are ok with me using quotes for my article.

Needless to say it was a horrible start to the year and didn't exactly help create a relaxed environment for the growing baby, but having the time to make a start on this writing course is great - something I've always wanted to do and would love to be able to do as a job once I need to go back to work again after no. 2 (due in May).

Thanks

Hi. I was made redundant at the end of my first pregnancy. This was to do with the nursery I worked in, closing, so was the full team not just me. I was lucky however, that I recieved my full occupational maternity pay so this kept me going financially until DD was 9/10 months old. I then found a lovely part time job, 12 hours a week.
Sorry to hear your experience wasn't a positive one Good luck with the course

I was made redundant both times I was pregnant, but it was very early on and not actually because of being pregnant - does that count? Still was a pita.

If you want to talk directly I'm at [email protected]

Yes, I was. A long time ago now though - 21 years ago. However, I have absolutely no complaints about the fact that they let me go. It was fair, it was a case of last in first out and I was one of about a hundred who went. Eventually they all got made redundant so I wasn't got rid off because I was expecting.

The only thing that really, really pissed me off though was that back then you had to work for an employer for 2 years to get paid maternity leave and I'd been there just under 2 years. It was a civil service department up until a few week before I was made redundant when we were privatised and although I got another job at a higher grade in another civil service department immediately my service wasn't transferable so all my mat leave was unpaid

THanks for the messages mummymash, Slashtrophe and Technofairy.

Slashtrophe - I mailed you yesterday so hopefully that got through.

Mummymash - any chance you would be willing to talk either on the phone or email? would be fab to hear a bit more about how you felt, how the process went etc.

Technofairy - very annoying indeed I can imagine re unpaid mat leave. So grating when rules you so nearly meet suddenly have a massive impact in a negative way. 2yrs to get mat leave - quite a change over last 20 years then!

Hi, at the moment its probably easier to catch me through email as 2 very busy boys:-)
[email protected]

Hi

I was made redundant a month before I went on mat leave at 38 weeks 2 years ago..! I can honestly say it was an overall positive experience luckily for me. Redundancies had been happening for the previous 2 years so there was no major shock. The office was closing and relocating to the Midlands so I wasn't being discriminated against for being pregnant! I got all my mat pay, holiday pay, redundancy pay etc so I was fine with that. If I hadn't have been planning a family at that time, I would have likely been looking for a new job/challenge probably TBH.

I got a new job when my DS was 7 months old. I love the new job and is 3 days week (vs my old 5 days a week) and in the sector I had re-trained and wanted to get into.

Happy to give you more info if you need. Good luck with
your article!

14 years ago, I was made redundant four weeks before I was due to go back to work from maternity leave. I was quite releaved as it gave me some breathing space (along with a little money).
I went to the Job shop, and had a long chat with a lovely, lovely lady advisor, and we worked out a plan, which enabled me to retrain as a nurse.
Best thing that ever happened to me, especially as it was to be a further three months before the next nursing course started.