Terrified of telling work im pregnant :(

[mysteriouseye]

I have been with my company since 22nd August 2011, but from August 2011 till 31st December 2011 if was a fixed contract with the intention to go permanent. On the 3rd January my contract went permanent and on the contract it says there is a 3 month probation period. I am not sure if it applies to me because I have already been there nearly six months in February and I am so scared. I want to wait untill around begining of april to tell them (when three month probation is up) but I will be 12 weeks on the week commencing 12th March. I am absolutely terrifed they will be angry and try and fire me or get rid of me. They are a really big sucessful american company with the main office based in Atlanta USA, I work in the England office as a receptionist. Pretty much every woman in there has had a baby and been on maternity leave so I am hoping this works in my favour. They are a very good company letting me have days off when I feel sick etc and very relaxed but I am just so scared they wont be as relaxed when I tell them I am pregnant. Please can someone give me your experience of telling work or if your in a similar situation.Also I have been with my company for 26 weeks (the time required to be able to claim maternity allowance) but I was on a fixed term contract from 22nd August to the 31st Decemeber and now I am on a Permanent contract? Will that affect it? Or must it be a complete 26 weeks on permanent do you think? Xx

 

[Dinah93]

You should be eligible for SMP, it doesn't matter if you're temporary or permanent, I think it's only about £30 a week you need to be earning. If for any reason you're not eligible you will certainly be eligible for SMA which is at the same level as SMP anyway.

As you're working in the UK you're covered by UK employment law, not US. You do not have to tell your employer you're expecting until you're 25 weeks, there is no requirement to tell at 12 weeks. I'm reasonably slight as a UK size 10 and even at 20 weeks I just look like I overindulged over Christmas, so most could probably eek it out a few weeks past 12 weeks if it's their first, one of my friends is a larger lady at around a size 16-18 and on her second baby she only told us all she was expecting at 31 weeks!

They'd have to be pretty brave or stupid to get rid of someone in their probationary period for getting pregnant, if you were to fight the dismissal they'd need to prove you were failing in the job.

Personally I'd probably wait until the probationary period is up to feel safer, but I don't think it will come to that.

 

[2011butterfly]

Agree with what previous poster said. They can't fire you just for being pregnant, and you don't have to tell them your pregnant until 15 weeks before your due date. Even though you were on a temp contract you are still entitled to maternity pay. You have to be employed by your employer for 26 weeks, into 15 weeks before baby is born.
Have a look at https://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyT...ort/Expectingorbringingupchildren/DG_10018741
This should give you more guidance.... good luck!!