Being made redundant whilst on maternity leave

Jojayne86

Hi. I have just been told I'm being made redundant. I am 3 months into my maternity leave and so want to know if I have any rights. I am having a telephone consultation Friday afternoon and want to be ready for any questions I have. This has come at a really bad time for me (not that there's ever a good time) and I am really worried. I am also wanting to buy a house this year, will all this effect my mortgage etc and do I buy quick as I am ready financially we have just been too picky.
Thanks so much in advance for any advice

kimplus8

I don't have any advice to give you but didn't want to read and run. Im so sorry this has happened to you. I hope you get it sorted, I'm sure someone more knowledgable than me will be along to help

daisy23169

What are the circumstances? E.g. business closing down and everyone's being made redundant or reducing two identical roles into one role or just your specific role is at risk? We can't offer advice without more information!

Jojayne86

Hi, the business is still staying, it's going through a restructure so my position will go, they basically can't afford management roles anymore (mine being one of them) I'm assuming they may offer me another position in the company that won't be a management role on less money, but that's just a guess. Thanks

daisy23169

Would you want to accept the lower paid role or would you rather get made redundant and look elsewhere? How long have you worked there?

If a suitable alternative vacancy is identified, this should be offered to you as you're on mat leave and if you refuse a suitable alternative vacancy then you could forfeit redundancy pay. If an available vacancy is on a lower salary, you could argue it is not a suitable alternative vacancy.

If you are made redundant, your employer has to pay the rest of your SMP entitlement even though you're only 3 months into mat leave.

Is tomorrow's meeting the first consultation? Get all the info about what roles are remaining and whether they consider any of them to be a suitable alternative to your role. Find out what they are proposing. Ask for job descriptions, salary info for the vacancies etc. Ask if they would be willing to offer a period of pay protection if you accept a lower paid role. Find out if they are offering any enhanced redundancy. Then have a think about all the options/come back here for further advice once you've got all the details.

If tomorrow is your first consultation, you don't have to make any decisions on the spot.

You should definitely not try to buy a house quickly and not mention that Your job is at risk. Your mortgage provider will ask if you are aware of any impending changes to your employment and will likely ask outright whether you are currently at risk of redundancy. Lying would be mortgage fraud.

Jojayne86

Hi thank you for your reply. Yes tomo is thefirst consultation. I will post on here when I have the information.
Jo

Jojayne86

Hi. I have just had my consultation call. My job role is completely going in the company. They have said if I was to take a similar role it would be in a store in Manchester (I'm In Preston) my next option is to look at lower position roles and a lower pay grade. As I am classed as a deputy manager I'm not allowed to apply for brand manager role as my skills don't come into that job title.
In my maternity pack it states "You can return to the Same job with the same terms and conditions following your ordinary maternity leave period.
You can return to the same, or if that is not resonably practical a similar job following your additional maternity leave period, on the terms and conditions

Jojayne86

*that are not less favourable to those you had before you went on maternity leave"

Does this stand for anything?
If I don't take the less pay grade jobs I will have to take my redundancy of what the goverment state, so no enhanced redundancy from the company.

These are not classed as 'similar' jobs and by no means match my current wage.
I can take a 4 week trial in a position I may take and if not suitable I can then take redundancy. They have also said I can choose to go through all this when my maternity is up in September Instead of now, but then surely I'm missing out on positions? As all this is to go into effect from March.

Any advice would be so appreciated
Jo

sangie595

Their conditions are those of the law. But the law does not guarantee you a job if there is no job. Effectively, what they are saying is that your job will be redundant in March, and at that time, if there is no suitable alternative post they will issue your notice. But if you want they will allow an extension to issue it in September at the end of your maternity leave. They don't have to do that.

The question here to put back to them is, if you choose September, can you try out any possible suitable alternatives in the period between March and September? Because that would allow you more time, and if one want suitable, another might be. They don't have to agree to that, but the fact they are prepared to allow that extra time suggests that they are not averse to being a little more flexible.

lincroft1710

It is unfortunate that your role is being made redundant while you are on maternity leave.

A company cannot be forced to maintain a role if it no longer meets business needs. They have offered you the most suitable alternatives that are available. Would it not be sensible to take one of the positions offered and stay there until you find something more suitable elsewhere? You will at least still be in employment.

Jojayne86

Hi Thankyou for your replies. They haven't actually offered me a job yet, they are waiting on any vacancies to be released and then I can see what I would see as being a suitable alternative. The only Issue I have is the pay, is pay protection something I can ask for? What if I proposed to take a non management role at a 30 hour contract (rather than the 39 I'm contracted too) on the same pay? This way they save 9 hours a week. I see this being favourable to me, is it worth asking? Thanks