Dealing with redundancy
Family finances
Preparing for a new arrival can be a particularly emotional time. Redundancy can make it all the more stressful. But there are things you can do to help lessen the impact of being made redundant.
It's important to know your rights, where you stand and what your options are. That way, you can make the decisions that are right for you.
This can happen because your employer needs to downsize, relocate or shut down. Whichever the case, here are some of the basic things you need to know about your rights and your options. You can also find useful information about your rights and options at How to deal with redundancy. And if you need help getting through a period of transition, we might also be able to help with an overdraft or an increase to your Barclaycard credit limit. This is subject to application, financial circumstances and borrowing history. You can also call at 0800 051 8346*.
It’s crucial to know your rights if you’re made redundant while on maternity leave. Being pregnant or on maternity leave doesn’t stop your employer from making you redundant. However, they must have a legitimate business reason. For example, the company might be downsizing or closing. Your employer can’t simply let you go because you’re pregnant, on maternity leave, or to avoid paying your Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP). If they do, you may be able make a claim of unfair dismissal or pregnancy and maternity discrimination. If this is the case, you should seek legal advice straight away.
If you’re made redundant for legitimate reasons during your maternity leave, you may still be entitled to redundancy pay. If you’ve worked for your employer for two continuous years or more, you will be entitled to redundancy pay.
If you’re made redundant during your maternity leave, the amount of redundancy pay you receive will be based on your regular weekly pay before going on maternity or shared parental leave.
Whatever your circumstance, it’s a good idea to find out about your rights at the UK Government guidelines concerning redundancy pay. That way, you’ll know exactly where you stand and what your options are.
This depends on when you were made redundant. If your employment ends before the qualifying week for SMP (the 15th week before the week the baby is due), you won’t get Statutory Maternity Pay. If your employment ends during or after the qualifying week, but before the maternity leave starts, you’re still entitled to SMP for 39 weeks.
If your employment ends while you're receiving SMP, you will still be entitled to SMP for the remainder of the 39 weeks.
Facing redundancy is stressful at the best of times. It can be particularly challenging if you’ve got a new arrival on the way. But there are steps you can take to make sure your finances are in hand. An important first step is to make a budget – or update your existing one. Budgeting may not sound like much fun. But it’s a powerful way to make sure you’re on top of your spending. Check out some of our helpful tools:
You can also get other useful advice about How to deal with redundancy. Finally, our Barclaycard team is always available by phone to provide support and plan for the future. You can visit our Coronavirus support page for more information.
If you’re looking for help with finances during redundancy, Barclaycard can help.
* Calls to 0800 numbers are free from UK land lines and personal mobiles. Otherwise call charges may apply. Please check with your service provider. Calls may be monitored or recorded in order to maintain high levels of security and quality of service.
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