Being made redundant while pregnant 🤰

Citizens Advice Bureau?

@Tamsin I’ve tried to get through to them can’t seem to get through always just tells me to go to their website which doesn’t say much

Maybe you can start your mat leave now, but someone with legal training needs to advise you

I didnt think they could make you redundant whilst pregnant and have to find you a similar role? You need to get advice

Oh this is awful for you!!! I would start Mat leave now, but it doesn't mean you'll get the enhanced pay when the business finishes. Absolutely call ACAS today though, on: 0300 123 1100 Or try 'Pregnant then Screwed' which are a pregnancy legal advice line. Keep us updated!

Reach out to Pregnant Then Screwed, and also anyone you know that works in HR to get advice. I know my mother in law was in a similar situation when she was pregnant and she managed to convince her boss to keep her on until she had the baby, so she would get maternity pay and then could leave anyway. I think she sold it as “look, you get a guaranteed worker until the day the baby comes to handle everyday operations and the effects of the redundancies (which is good because a lot of people will jump ship whenever is convenient for them, so managing a team will be difficult), and I get the maternity benefits I have worked so hard to earn. Win win” although I would reach out to pregnant then screwed first and potentially HR before trying this as I don’t necessarily know if it would work now. But remember, you can negotiate!! It’s a business after all. Good luck xx

Pregnant then screwed instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pregnant_then_screwed?igsh=OGV1azE0bmhudGU4 And their website with all the information you’ll need and phone lines: https://pregnantthenscrewed.com/signposting-for-help-support/

Hello, I work in HR! You can go on maternity leave early, however for statutory at least you must give 28 days notice (obviously some situations don't allow for this), or the new start date must be agreed between you and your employer. It will mostly come down to what your employers policy states which I'm happy to look over if you want. Unfortunately if it is a genuine redundancy situation, which it sounds like it may be if everyone is in same position, your employer can make you redundant. If there are any suitable alternative roles, you must be given priority for these. If you are entitled to SMP at the time your employment ends, you must still receive it for the rest of the SMP period. And as others have said, if you think there is any discrimination going on here, contact ACAS/PTS. Feel free to message me if you have any other questions x

@Natalie thank you so much for your advice. I’ve tried to get through to them but they are closed until the 30th of September. 😫

Look on ACAS website for advice. I don’t think they can take away your maternity pay from you, even if they make you redundant!

That would be a discussion you would have to have with HR/payroll as it is a company payment and not something that is mandated by the government

Definitely start maternity leave straight away

I thought they recently implemented a new policy “Pregnancy and maternity leave – employees are protected during pregnancy (from the point they tell their employer they are pregnant) and during an additional protected period after they return to work from statutory maternity leave. This period is calculated from the first day of the expected week of childbirth for a period of 18 months. If an employee takes their full 12 months of statutory maternity leave, they’ll receive an extra six months of protection following their return to work. The new rules apply where the employer is informed of the pregnancy on or after 6 April 2024, and for the additional protected period, for any maternity leave ending on or after 6 April 2024.“

@Liv do you know how "suitable alternative roles" is defined? Seems a grey area. (Probs going through a change programme myself soon)

@Gina It is definitely a grey area! It's down to a few things; similarities to current role, the terms and conditions, your skills & of course pay/benefits etc. You're able to complete a 4 week trial and then revert to redundancy if it's discovered the role is not a suitable alternative!

@Anfisa This is correct, however you can still be made redundant for genuine reasons when pregnant.

@Liv and from my understanding being "matched" is different? So everything just carries over. And you have priority for that over others in a similar role?

@Rebecca they are planning on closing our location so nothing I can do unfortunately they putting office up for sale

@Gina Can you explain what you mean by matched? But yes you have priority over others in a similar role

Even if nothing can be done I would go on maternity leave now. In my job if you go on "sick leave related to pregnancy" within so many weeks of delivery it automatically triggers your maternity leave. Even if they make you redundant, you'll be in no worse situation, but at leave you'll have had time off to relax...

@Liv we have like job slots where it is simply matched to your role and then anything else would be "suitable alternative" I think?

Talk to ACAS they will be able to advise the best. 2nd as you are working at 25 weeks you could be eligible for maternity allowance but I'm not 100% sure. My friend got made redundant but that was luckily towards the end of her maternity leave. I think you are technically protected against redundancy while on mat leave not sure about while pregnant but I think if they are making the whole team/company redundant it doesn't count as you can't say you were targeted for being pregnant/on mat leave. ACAS have helped me in the past so get in contact ASAP

Hey, I got told I could be made redundant whilst pregnant too .. so I looked it all up. From what I remember, even if your pregnant, your not exempt from redundancy but what they legally need to do is pay your mat leave as they would have done should you have stayed in the role. You could look for new roles to start when you would have returned to work .. providing they aren’t immediate starts x

@Amanda I spoke to Acas and they basically said that when my redundancy starts my contract ends so therefore I wouldn’t be entitled to any contractual benefits such as enhanced maternity pay so I would only get statutory which is really difficult as I was planning to receive full pay for the first four months but obviously this is now going to be a lot less now on statutory x