Newly employed but pregnant!

becks20 · 20 July 2015 at 7:35PM

Hello,

I was recently hired by a large firm on a 1 year fixed term contract, however I have now found out I am pregnant (didn't know at the time!!) and I don't know where I stand. I will be having to go on maternity leave during my 1 year contract. Will I be paid maternity? If I get paid maternity, will it be for the full 9 months or until my contract ends? Will I have a job to go back to or will they not renew my contract?

If anyone could advise I would be very grateful!

Thanks, from a worried mother/mother to be.

harryfrombarry_2 · 22 July 2015 at 1:19AM

becks20 wrote: »

Hello,

I was recently hired by a large firm on a 1 year fixed term contract, however I have now found out I am pregnant (didn't know at the time!!) and I don't know where I stand. I will be having to go on maternity leave during my 1 year contract. Will I be paid maternity? If I get paid maternity, will it be for the full 9 months or until my contract ends? Will I have a job to go back to or will they not renew my contract?

If anyone could advise I would be very grateful!

Thanks, from a worried mother/mother to be.

Why on earth should this company pay you nine months pay, when you have only just been employed by them.

The world has gone mad.

BoJangles_2 · 22 July 2015 at 10:46AM

There maybe a clause stating that you have to be employed for a year before becoming eligible for maternity pay.

asajj · 22 July 2015 at 11:06AM

Talk to them? My friend had this issue - in fact, she informed HR during interviews that she is expecting but HR failed to pass this to the hiring manager. She went on maternity after 6 months in the job, fully paid and had no issues.

BoJangles_2 · 22 July 2015 at 12:50PM

blondebubbles wrote: »

For enhanced pay perhaps, but not statutory maternity pay.

This is what I assumed, if not eligible for company maternity pay then they will be get statutory. Otherwise they will have nothing.

purdyoaten · 22 July 2015 at 5:54PM

blondebubbles wrote: »

They may not get SMP either. It would depend on when they started work and when they became pregnant as well as the other eligibility criteria

The rule to get SMP is that you have to have been employed for 26 weeks at the start of the 15th week before the expected date. Sharp people will note that this adds up to 41 weeks - normal pregnancy length. In short - if you are pregnant on the day that you start work (whether you know or not) - no SMP!

Undervalued · 22 July 2015 at 6:12PM

harryfrombarry wrote: »

Why on earth should this company pay you nine months pay, when you have only just been employed by them.

The world has gone mad.

To comply with the law!

Write to your MP if you don't like it!

Fireflyaway · 22 July 2015 at 6:28PM

Check your company policy. I was pregnant when I joined my company and so I was only entitled to 6 months leave and no company maternity pay - just statutory pay. I think most companies are the same.