Redundancy protection period for new mums. 30 June 2020 at 5:10PM in Redundancy & redundancy planning 9 replies 301 views

marc1980

Hello everyone, I hope this finds you well.

I have read that, “The government proposes to extend the redundancy protection period for 6 months once a new mother has returned to work”.

"Consultation Published 25 January 2019, Last updated 22 July 2019. This consultation has concluded." 

As shown on GOV.UK website. However, I don’t seem to be able to find anything that says this is now in force, do you know if this is or can point me in the direction where I can find out?

Many thanks.

zee1120

Hi Marc, 

According to the snippet below on the uk gov website, the 6 months' protection has already been in place since July 22nd 2019.

"Pregnant women and new mothers could receive up to 2 years of legal protection against redundancy, with new protections today (22 July) being extended for an additional 6 months after their return to work, Business Minister Kelly Tolhurst announced."

Masomnia

This is not yet law.

Emmia

zee1120 said:

Hi Marc, 

According to the snippet below on the uk gov website, the 6 months' protection has already been in place since July 22nd 2019.

"Pregnant women and new mothers could receive up to 2 years of legal protection against redundancy, with new protections today (22 July) being extended for an additional 6 months after their return to work, Business Minister Kelly Tolhurst announced."

The operative bit is "could receive".. 

zee1120

I read the new protections line saying its 6 months as standard from the 22nd July. The 'could receive' part is for up to two years. (that's just how I interpreted it). 
Can someone with more knowledge on this confirm? 

sharpe106

It is not protection from redundancy, it is protection from redundancy discrimination. Two separate things. So does not change much anyway just extends the time.

Undervalued

sharpe106 said:

It is not protection from redundancy, it is protection from redundancy discrimination. Two separate things. So does not change much anyway just extends the time.

Quite!

Pregnancy, in itself, is no bar to redundancy. However, in the real world the legal pitfalls make many employers extra careful.

Rebecca5833

Hi, so glad I came across this topic. I work for an airline and I am waiting to hear if i will be made redundant. I finished my maternity 3 weeks ago and I'm now onto furlough, I have a 7 month old I'm dreading to loose my job as I have been there 10 years, do I have any rights?

 Many thanks

sharpe106

The only real right you have is for you not to be selected because you have been on maternity leave. It is not a pass. So basically if they are selecting between two people, they can't choose you just because you have been off on maternity leave they need another reason. 

Although as others have said companies don't want to fall fowl of the law so sometimes will play it safe and if it is a simple choice get rid of the one that has not been on maternity if all other things are equal. 

Thrugelmir

Rebecca5833 said:

Hi, so glad I came across this topic. I work for an airline and I am waiting to hear if i will be made redundant. I finished my maternity 3 weeks ago and I'm now onto furlough, I have a 7 month old I'm dreading to loose my job as I have been there 10 years, do I have any rights?

 Many thanks

The contraction in the number operating bases is going to determine where the cuts are felt the hardest.