Made Redundant whilst on Maternity

[carron81]

Hi

Just had a letter from work making me redundant.

I'm due to go back to work in april after being on maternity leave

I've been with the company over 2 years and got messed about my whole pregnancy.. They changed my job twice, made me work 10 hour days with no breaks when i had a terrible pregnancy. I just went along with it as i was so ill and stressed out i didn't want to get more stressed with a confrontation. then they changed my contract.

i ended up taking early maternity because i was so ill as stressed. now i'm well and was expecting to go back to work ive just had a letter about the start of the redundancey process.

what should i do. writing a letter to them

[Velvetee]

That sounds very suspect. I'm also pregnant and keep expecting my company to try something to get rid of me, although on the whole, they've been ok.

I don't know what to advise, except to get advice from an employment Lawyer or the CAB. This really sounds quite unfair and it's illegal to discriminate against someone because they are pregnant.

[Ethel]

You can be made redundant whilst on maternity leave, provided the redundancy is not connected to your maternity leave.

So, if the company has a policy of 'last in, first out' and you fall within that selection criteria, the redundancy is fair and lawful.

Ask them what their policy and why you have been selected for redundancy.

[Velvetee]

From what I've read your employer has a legal obligation to give your job back once your maternity leave ends.

Try contacting the following organisations for advice

ACAS:- 08457 474747 or www.acas.org.uk

Equal Opportunities Commission:- 0845 601 5901 or www.eoc.org.uk

[carron81]

hi

just emailing the local CAB to see if i can make an appointment.

my work were a nightmare when pregnant and found out their being the same to another girl who is pregnant now

my work is a new branch and i came from an existing brancg so i've been with the company longer than everyone

i think they were trying to get rid of me before i was pregnant. my work are a nightmare. they sack folk on a weekly basis and one friend did take them to court but no on knows what happend apart from she got a pay off and had to sign a privacy agreement that she couldn't discuss it

[carron81]

i did get advice by phone from the CAB whilst pregnant when they changed my contract but due to me being that sick i wasn't able to go in and see the CAB to discuss it further

they did say my work was completely in the wrong for changing my contract when i said no and they could get into al lot of trouble but i just couldn't cope with any more stress at the time

[Velvetee]

Do try to ring ACAS, as they will give you the correct advice, they are open Mon-Fri 8am to 6pm

Good luck.