Maternity pay

[Boo2]

I have been working in IT for just over 3 years. I was taken on on a 6 month contract and told that the position was only temporary. After 6 months they renewed my contract for a further 6 months and so on until I now find myself having been here over 3 years with 2 and half months left on my existing contract. They are now promising me a permanent contract in my current position at the end of March if I can prove that I really want it. I am now 4 months pregnant and have not yet told my employer. My question is, does anyone know if I am entitled to any maternity benefit or anything like that? I have heard from various people that even if you are on a temporary contract, if you have been with a company for more than 2 years you have certain rights etc. My concern is that I will tell them and they will then 'let me go' at the end of March and look for someone else rather than deal with my situation. I do have an appointment to speak to Personnel in just over a week but if anyone out there has any help or advice it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[stoo_pid]

As an employee, you are entitled to Ordinary Maternity Leave (26 weeks) no matter how long you've been employed by your company.  You should be entitled to Additional Maternity Leave & Statutory Maternity Pay too. Basically, to qualify, you need to have been working for your employer for at least 26 weeks by the end of the 15th week before your baby is due.  (NB. You must also still be employed by them in that 15th week too.)  As far as I can tell, having several 'temporary' contracts one after the other shouldn't make any difference.

A qucik trip to the CAB should confirm your rights but in the meantime these links might help:

http://www.maternityalliance.org.uk/parents_work.htm

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent/benefits/statutory_maternity_pay.asp

http://www.worksmart.org.uk/rights/viewsubsection.php?sun=52

http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2002/20020022.htm

[Hgrove]

I also suggest you contact ACAS www.acas.org.uk.

[kaba81]

The answer should be yes but I am not an expert in this so best to contact your agency.  I know you would have to provide a MATB1 form from your Doctor or Midwife and send this off to your company's payroll/HR department.  By law, the company cannot discriminate especially in this case because you are pregnant.

Hope this helps

kaba81