Maternity Pay - New Stress

[Julie33]

I emailed my HR dept last week to tell them I was pregnant. Yesterday a general email was sent to all UK staff telling them that the UK maternity policy is changing and any individual were to call for more info.

I had emailed my HR dept to get details of my maternity rights in May last year - before I decided if I was financially ready for a baby. They emailed back and I was told that I would get 6 months full pay and 6 months unpaid. I thought that was great and went ahead trying right away.

Anyway called yesterday and was told the policy was changing and I would NOT get 6 months full pay just the legal standard - 6 weeks 90% and 33 weeks basic maternity (£109 per week).

I'm the main wage earner in my house - I'm a senior administrator and have taken 12 years to get where I am.

Now I have to hire a lawyer and go through the courts - which I don't know if I can afford. I've just bought a new house and financially I'm going to be bankrupt if I don't get my full benefits.

I've also been told if I make a fuss there is ways of getting rid of me - who going to hire a preganant woman at my level?

I can't stop crying, I can't afford my mortage now

 

[tuck]

Sorry to say that I'm not sure wether you will actually have a case regarding your employers changing their maternity policy, I would suggest that you ask to see your HR manager and discuss it more fully, also to have a look at your employers written maternity policy and when it changed etc.
your employers cannot 'get rid of you' because your pregnant and there are quite stict employment rules on this.
do you have a TU at your employers? if yes then I would speak to your TU rep, or see the CAB.

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

sorry cant give you any more positive help at the moment

 

[clairescunny55]

isnt there a new thing coming in this month? i've been told that if you've worked for the company for so long you get 9 months paid and 3 months unpaid?? thats what i've been told i'll get

 

[Julie33]

Update - Just spoke to my lawyer (Dad's going to help me with any costs) and I have a contract that says I'm entitled to 6 months full pay and if they try to change that I can sue them for breach of contract and also for breach of the Maternity Act and the Sexual Discrimination Act.

Lawyer seems to think 1 strongly worded letter will force them to back down and give me the six month full pay and further 3 months at basic maternity pay and then 3 months unpaid - so I'm just going to wait and see.

Still it's stress I can do without right now.

 

[valentine]

isnt there a new thing coming in this month? i've been told that if you've worked for the company for so long you get 9 months paid and 3 months unpaid?? thats what i've been told i'll get

Hi Claire,

You are talking about the change in maternity leave allowance, which comes in on 1 April (more info on the Working Families website - http://www.workingfamilies.org.uk/asp/f ... sheets.asp)- which means that women are entitled to 9 months STATUTORY pay (£109 a week) and 3 months unpaid - Julie's situation means that she was entitled to full pay and has now been told she'll only get statutory, which she is querying - some companies offer women extra benefits such as full pay for a period of time.

I hope that makes sense!

Good luck Julie - sounds like it'll hopefully all work out.

Valentine xxx

 

[Keely]

oh how annoying, good luck with the letter etc. Remember about tax credit etc, if your OH is not on as much you should be entitle xxxxx