Trying to conceive but possible redundancies at work...

KLB

Hello all, I’m currently trying to conceive with my boyfriend at a time when there is talk of redundancies at my workplace. I just wondered where I would stand if I got pregnant and had told the company, could they then still make me redundant and would I lose my maternity pay? Would I be in a better position being pregnant as in it would make it harder for them to make me redundant? I do actually think that my job is one of the safer ones at work, but you never can tell, it’s a bit of a lottery it seems. Thanks x

Ruth.77

Unfortuntley your company can still make you redundant if your pregnant as long as they can proof it was a valid redundancy ie. They are make a number of staff in similar roles redundant.

They would only need to pay you redundancy if you are still employed by them at 25/26 weeks pregnant. If you are unable to get statutory maternity pay from your company you can still apply for maternity allowance through the department of work and pensions.

The DWP website should have more details.

Ruth

Jo_R_2

I actually got made redundant in my last job whilst going somewhere after 20 weeks' pregnant (can't remember exact amount of weeks.) Fortunately there were alternative positions available, which I had an interview for and was successful, so my employment was counted as continuous, and I received SMP as I would have.

You can be made redundant whilst pregnant, unfortunately you aren't 'protected' as such. However if I remember correctly (someone might like to comment), if pregnant you have priority over any alternative available positions.

I found out when I was working that you can also get made redundant after your qualifying period (the period the company use to work out your SMP, which makes you eligible to receive SMP) and still be eligible to receive SMP, dependent on the circumstances this might come from a different source than your employer. I'd double check this as it may be slightly different now the SMP period has increased.

honeypop

I have just been made redundant when the company knew I was 10 weeks pregnant. There is no protection to speak of really, it makes no difference. I won't qualify for SMP even when I start a new job but will have to claim Maternity Allowance instead. I knew when I was still trying to conceive that redundancies were possible however we had been trying for over a year and wasn't prepared to put it on hold because of job uncertainty. we still wanted a baby whatever happened with my work, even if I ended up job hunting while pregnant - which now I am!

Like you I thought my job was one of the safer ones, however you never know what will happen. So no, you have no protection over keeping your job when pregnant unfortunately, so you have a big decision on your hands: carry on trying to conceive knowing you could be looking for another job while pregnant and losing out on SMP if you get made redundant, or wait until you know for sure what the work situation is (although it could always change at any time).