Maternity and Redundancy

TeddyGirl

Hi all I am looking for some advice please.

I started my current job on 2nd March 2015 and then just over a month later I found out I was pregnant (we were expecting it to take a few months because it took 7 months to fall pregnant last time (ended in miscarriage) so we weren't expecting to fall so quickly). I work in a school and we were told just before the summer holidays that there will be a restructuring and my job title is one of the ones to go which means I have had to apply for the other jobs available in the school (e.g. they are getting rid of Specialist Science (me), Specialist English and Specialist Maths and just having a Specialist KS4 which I have applied for) but I doubt I will get it because I am pregnant.

I am now really worried about money. I know I will get Maternity Allowance if I am made redundant but to be honest it's not really much !

My question is, if I was to go on maternity leave (I can start maternity leave on 4th October) before I am formally made redundant, will my rights and payments change (e.g. can I be made redundant while on maternity leave) or will they be the same as if I am made redundant before I leave for maternity ?

It's such a shame because I love my job and the kids I work with !

Thanks for any help !

sangie595

Your rights and payments do not change if you start maternity leave early - you can still be made redundant. If the process of redundancy had not started until after you went on maternity leave, that would have potentially made a difference, but those rights do not apply during pregnancy. Obviously, it is not lawful for an employer to not appoint because someone is pregnant. But proving that is more difficult.