On maternity leave and fearful of being made redundant

QUESTION: I'm in the first month of my maternity leave and my employer has announced it'll be making 50 redundancies. Am I more at risk of being made redundant than my colleagues?
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Jan 2010, 15:47 BST
Updated 26th Jan 2010, 16:54 BST

ANSWER: The fact that you are on maternity leave should have no bearing on your risk of redundancy. If it is taken into account as a factor by your employer, this would amount to sex discrimination and give rise to a legal claim.

Conversely, being on maternity leave is not a shield to protect you from a genuine redundancy if a fair procedure is followed. Sex discrimination claims are very time-sensitive and you should seek advice from the CAB or a law centre as soon as possible.

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Newtownabbey CAB contribute to work in the community and to social issues undertaken both locally and nationally, particularly by identifying enquiries which have wide implications.

For further information log on to www.adviceguide.org.uk

n Newtownabbey Citizens Advice Bureau: Dunanney Centre, Rathmullan Drive, Rathcoole, Newtownabbey, BT37 9DQ; Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9am - 1pm Open door service, Wednesday and afternoons appointments only, Lunch 1pm - 1.30pm. Telephone advice available 9am - 4pm each day 028 9085 2271/9085 2400. Also now taking telephone queries on Wednesday evenings from 5pm - 8pm and on Saturdays 9am - 1pm.

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