Possible redundancy - i start Maternity Leave in 2 weeks - HELP !?!?

Natshorses

Oh goodness
The whole company had an email today warning of future redundancies but i am heavily pregnant (35 weeks) and am due to start my maternity leave on 5th December after 2 weeks holiday that starts on Monday.

The facts:

* I've now worked for my employer for 58 weeks
* I put them on notice of my pregnancy at 20 weeks
* I work mainly from home so no chance of them offering me an alternative position
* I had decided to only take 12 weeks and my return to work date was in March (albeit on a part time basis till next Xmas)

Ive looked at the government website and it says :

If you have the right to receive SMP, you'll get it even if you decide to leave your job (or are made redundant) before you start receiving SMP. Also once you start getting it, your employer must continue to pay SMP to you even if you leave your job or are made redundant. You don't have to repay it if you decide not to go back to work or leave your job whilst getting SMP. If you are employed you can choose when you want your SMP to start, this will normally coincide with your Ordinary Maternity Leave. Unless your baby is born sooner, the earliest SMP can start is 11 weeks before the week your baby is due

So, now ive managed to compose myself from the shock, does that mean that i will be entitled to the usual SMP that they would have had to pay me anyway ?

If, say, they make me redundant one week into my maternity leave, can i extend my SMP to the full allowance rather than just the 12 weeks i was originally going to take?

If anyone out there can settle my mind i really would be grateful - getting this upset so late in my pregnancy really wont do me any good but i just cant help worrying about the future now
Thanks in advance guys
Nat xx

tigtag02

Natshorses wrote: »

Oh goodness
The whole company had an email today warning of future redundancies but i am heavily pregnant (35 weeks) and am due to start my maternity leave on 5th December after 2 weeks holiday that starts on Monday.

The facts:

* I've now worked for my employer for 58 weeks
* I put them on notice of my pregnancy at 20 weeks
* I work mainly from home so no chance of them offering me an alternative position
* I had decided to only take 12 weeks and my return to work date was in March (albeit on a part time basis till next Xmas)

Ive looked at the government website and it says :



So, now ive managed to compose myself from the shock, does that mean that i will be entitled to the usual SMP that they would have had to pay me anyway ?

If, say, they make me redundant one week into my maternity leave, can i extend my SMP to the full allowance rather than just the 12 weeks i was originally going to take?

If anyone out there can settle my mind i really would be grateful - getting this upset so late in my pregnancy really wont do me any good but i just cant help worrying about the future now
Thanks in advance guys
Nat xx

The simple answer is yes

You only need to give 8 weeks notice of your return to work date and as your entitled to 39 weeks SSP you can change that.

Good luck
tt

DFW2

If you don't get SMP for whatever reason you might be able to claim Maternity Allowance instead see www.direct.gov.uk for more info, sounds like you should still be entitled to your SMP though.

greenflamingo_2

my situation is similar to natshorses; I am 33 weeks pregnant and have just been informed my job is at risk. My Ordinary Maternity Leave starts on 1st December, but all redundant staff leave site on 15th December. I have a letter from my employer which states I am entitled to 39 weeks SMP (26 weeks of which is topped up by my employer to full basic salary). So basically two weeks into my OML I will be made redundant and lose 24 weeks full pay. I also read somewhere that you can claim the first 6 weeks full pay whilst on maternity leave?

As part of my employment contract I am entitled to 3 months Payment In Lieu - is it possible to begin to claim SMP 3 months after the baby is born i.e. after my Payment in Lieu? I am concerned that if I begin to claim immediately 3 months SMP will be deducted from my 3 months Payment in Lieu? Or have I got this totally wrong and I will get 3 months Payment in Lieu + 39 weeks SMP without any deduction? Does the employer pay the SMP as part of a lump sum on top of any redundancy payments? Any help appreciated as I need to be fully informed on this one to avoid any pitfalls.