made redundant whilst pregnant

melg1973 · 20 September 2007 at 1:12PM

hi guys, I posted this on the benefits board yesterday but to no avail, I know you lot are always helpful/supportive and just wondered if anyone had any comments or suggestions, many thanks in advance..........

3 of us at work have been made redundant, unfortunately for me I am 13 weeks pregnant so am guessing I don't stand much chance of getting a job before having the baby (due 24/3/08). Although I am no longer at work I am actually getting paid up to 5/10/07 - they told us we don't need to work our notice. Probably the way they handled the whole situation they know we wouldn't be very productive! I have only been there 2.5 year so will only get £620 redundancy (DTI guidelines are max £310 per week per year).

I went to the local job centre who said I have to claim over the phone first and then get sent an appointment to go in, however when I rang they wouldn't take any details until my notice period has expired on 5th October. I have worked out for myself so far that hopefully I should be able to claim the folllowing, could anyone in the know tell me if I have missed anything/got it completely wrong (my partner earns £23k, we have approx £4k in savings):

JSA Contribution based from 6th October (or whenever it would start - maybe monday 8th??).

Maternity Allowance from 11 weeks before the baby is due - approx first week in January - for 39 weeks if I have understood the direct gov website.

When the baby arrives obviously child benefit, the minimum child tax credit (doubled in the first year).

I believe JSA Contribution can be claimed for up to 6 months depending on stamp. If I claim if for approx 3 months up to the maternity allowance kicking in would I be able to claim another period when the maternity allowance runs out if I have trouble finding a job (would be looking for a part time/jobshare). Or does the maternity allowance use up my contributions?

Any help would be greatly appreciated (I know my situation could be a lot worse but its still quite distressing).

Shineyhappy · 20 September 2007 at 1:52PM

I am sorry to hear your news. I cant offer any adivce but just wanted to send you my best wishes.

The CAB might be able to help you and you maybe able to get some temping work to start off with.

Good luck!

ukbandit · 20 September 2007 at 2:22PM

well theres no reason why you can't start looking for work.
IIRC, you get maternity no matter how long you have been in a job, so its worth trying to look whilst your notice period is going through, it gives you a head start.

godd luck!

silvercar · 20 September 2007 at 4:49PM

Do you were picked for redundnacy because you were pregnant? I understood it was almost impossible to make anyone pregnant redundant without being sued for unfair dismissal.

coolio_2 · 20 September 2007 at 5:20PM

I was under the impression that if you were pregnant you could not be made redundant

india · 20 September 2007 at 5:38PM

That what I thought too. Doesn't your company have a maternity package. Aren't they obliged to give you maternity pay? I'd ask CAB

bunty109 · 20 September 2007 at 5:40PM

coolio wrote: »

I was under the impression that if you were pregnant you could not be made redundant

No, you can be made redundant. The onus on the employer is to show that they haven't made you redundant BECAUSE you are pregnant. I['ve been made redundant whilst pregnant. The employer is liable for maternity pay, but my employer went into liquidation so the government paid my redundancy and maternity.

The Maternity Alliance were great for giving me advice, but I believe they aren't around now. Might I suggest you call ACAS on their helpline as they are very much up on employment topics and should point you in the right direction?

mrcow · 20 September 2007 at 5:52PM

melg1973 wrote: »

3 of us at work have been made redundant, unfortunately for me I am 13 weeks pregnant so am guessing I don't stand much chance of getting a job

Can you provide any more details?

Was your entire department lost or did they pick you out?
Have they followed correct procedure?
Did they know you were pregnant when they made you redundant?

Sorry, but if it were me, I'd be straight on the phone to CAB to discuss where to go from here.

Snow_Dog · 20 September 2007 at 7:53PM

Not sure if the company was being nice or whether they had to but my wife was made redundant 10 years ago (they closed the whole office).

She was given 3 months notice, the same week she let them know she would be applying for maternity leave from the day before the redundancy started.

They still made her redundant but paid in one lump sum in addition to the redundancy cheque her total maternity alowance which took her about 6 months past the redundancy point.

The really cheeky thing was we said that because they were paying the maternity for the theoretical six months it also took her past another years anniversary of employment so we got another weeks wages in the redundancy payout too.

(And she still got her continuing commissions sent through the post for another six months afterwards too.)

Ten years on and we are still getting staff discount on management fees for the investment plans too that were in place. Staff discount was no fees, hoopy or what.

snowmaid · 21 September 2007 at 11:03AM

I know that when my sister was made redundant there was a woman who was pregnant and they could not make her redundant.

Did the company know you were preggers before making you redundant?

rjm2k1 · 21 September 2007 at 11:20AM

snowmaid wrote: »

I know that when my sister was made redundant there was a woman who was pregnant and they could not make her redundant.

This is simply not true, they probably didn't want to risk the cost of defending an unfair dismissal case.

made redundant whilst pregnant

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