Work Worries...

[Shinymac]

I am currently on a 6 month contract at my work, due to end on 6th April.
There is a chance this will be extended, or made permanent, although they are under no obligation to do so.
There are 6 of us in this situation, and we are all desperate to know what the outcome will be.
I have been told by my manager, that they cannot discriminate against me due to my pregnancy, and I will be considered fairly along with the others. However, I have had 2 occasions of sickness due to a bug I had in early December (2 others have had more sick than this, and are consistently late), but at the time my manager told me that because I am pregnant, the sickness will not be considered or taken into account.
Today, I have handed in my letter announcing my pregnancy officially, with my intentions should my post be made permanent or extended, along with a copy of my MATB1 form. I showed this to my manager before sending it to HR, and he said it was fine, and then took me aside to say that they don't want to keep me hanging on without knowing what is going on, and they've been discussing it this morning, so they should be able to give me a decision soon.
I don't know why, but I got a negative feeling, and just think they're going to drop me like a hot (fat!) cake!
I'm so worried!

 

[valentine]

Oh hun , I so know how this feels - I hope the waiting is over soon for you.

When I was pregnant first time round in the first half of 2007 (due in July 2007), I had a fixed term contract that had been renewed a number of times which was due to expire at the end of March. My work was fine (as in I was good at my job, not late etc) but my employers (charity and voluntary sector) were not sure what their funding situation was and couldn't give any of us answers.

Then I found out that as I'd been there during my pregnancy, then I was entitled to my 6 weeks @ 90% and 33 weeks at SMP rate paid from my employers, the same as I would have been if my post was continued. So if I was made redundant they would still have to pay my SMP (including the 6 weeks at 90% as standard) and claim it back from the government in the usual way.

My work only paid the standard SMP as listed above, but you may be more worried if your work pays full pay/half pay/more maternity benefits as this is what you might lose out on if you are made redundant. Even if the worst does happen, then you will get your SMP from your employer (including the 6 weeks at 90%) as this is your right.

Eventually, and close to the wire, we were all kept on and my work just paid me my SMP as normal and I took a full year off (13 months with accrued holidays). I really hope things work out well for you too - let us know how you get on.

Valentine Xxx

 

[Kittykins]

just to say that sometimes this works in the employer's favour...

As Valentine has said, you'll be entitled to some kind of maternity pay even if you're made redundant.

If the employer thinks that things are rocky financially in the short-term, but they think they'll be better in a few months' time, then having you on mat leave could prove useful for them. They don't pay SMP - HMRC does - so if you're off work and they don't replace you whilst you're away, they save money. Then you come back when things are a bit better, and they don't have to pay to recruit and train someone else.

So don't despair just yet - most employers would rather hang on to someone decent than go to the effort of finding a replacement anyway, and if they're looking to save money, well, they will anyway by you going on mat leave!

 

[Shinymac]

Thanks for the reassurance guys - really appreciate it.

I've come home now to a copy of my contract through the post, on which it stipulates that I am on a temporary 6 month contract, and it may be extended, but may not. Tell me something I don't know! I already got one of these in October when I started! Haha!