Hi there
Actually I fell pregnant as I started my new job and found out the week later- I would have been about 4 weeks the week after I started.
I may be entitled to it (have sought some legal advice) as I have had 'continuous service' with another employer attached to my current one, but the issue is that I had a month in between where I was still working for the 1st employer (but should have stopped) so we didn't bother writing up the contract again as I was leaving. Tricky I know, but it was only when I got to the new empoloyer that I realised they grant continuous service with the old employer
So in a nut shell, the 1st employer say they can't write a retrospective contract, and so wrote a formal letter which you would think would suffice! The 2nd employer are beng P**CKS about it and want a formal contract. So they have chatted on the phone and can't reach an agreement as their internal policies differ.
So either I take legal action, or let it go- depeneding on my stress levels!
You are right I did mean 18 weeks of FULL PAY + rest in SMP.
I want to leave the compay anyway after they way I've been treated (with such insensitivity in a not so black and white situation, when their policy says discretion can be used and women will be treated with sensitivity- my continuous service issue has been going around in circles for 3 monhs!) .
SO if I leave I would have to pay back most of the employer maternity pay anyway (and get just the SMP). I think the difference between SMP and ordinary MA is only 6 weeks pay at 90% which is probably not worth fighting about / getting a lawyer over --- as it's taxed after that too, right?????