Forced to resign from work is this right? Was it because i was pregnant?

Question

I was working for a huge Risk Management company in London and had a 6 month probabtion period, at 3 months i was told that my work was not up to standard and i was to improve so probabtion was extended by another 3 months (9 months total) I told them i was 13 weeks pregnant about 2 weeks after this and then 2 weeks later i was called into the office saying i still was not improving even though i thought i had and i had been working so hard, the examples they gave me i argued but was not taken seriously, they asked me what i wanted to do , i said stay and they said you either resign or go through disciplinary i felt so on the spot and asked if i could go away and think about it i was told no, so in tears i finally resigned not wanting the stress of disciplinary. Could i take this further do you think? I keep thinking if i had not told them about the pregnancy i would still be there.

Answer 1

A probationary period is designed to allow the employer to see if a new hire is going to be a valued member of the staff, or if for some reason, they will not fit the company. When you are under a probationary period, you can be let go for any reason.

You were told that your work was not satisfactory! As part of this, your probationary period was extended! Your work did not improve enough (in the view of management, which is the only one that counts in this case). They offered you a chance to go through a disciplinary procedure, where you could have tried to defend your work, or to resign! You chose to resign, because you were not willing to deal with the "stress of disciplinary"!

This is most likely best for you, because it was obvious that you were not fitting in at the job. Rather than accepting the fact that the job situation was not a good fit for you, you now are looking for something other than your performance to blame!

Find another job that is more suited to your personality, talents and work ethic!

Good luck!

Answer 2

No i dont think this is relating to your pregnancy, as you was on probabtion at the time there is nothing you can do. A company can get rid of you within the probationary period without even having to give you a reason, the fact they did shows it was your work that was nt up to scratch.

Companies cannot afford to keep staff who's standards do not meet the requirements and therefore your work was not good enough and then you telling them your pregnant was just the icing. They wont keep someone on just because there pregnant if your not good at your job

sorry to be brutal hun but thats business and if your not good at your job it can't be helped

Good Luck with your pregnancy

to put it simply: you was already been told you wasnt good enough before you told them you were pregnant, so that shows it was your work. By telling them you was pregnant it just said to your employers that you wasnt worth the money for the job you were doing but also that they would have to pay you maternity.

Sounds like you told them you were pregnant in hopes of keeping your job

Answer 3

As much as I would like to be able to tell you differently, if you were in your probationary period then they have every right to terminate you or ask you to resign if they are not happy with your performance. Whether or not in the end it had to do with your pregnancy, you still can't prove that was the case b/c of the fact that they told you at 3 months that they were not happy with your performance.
If by "take it further" you mean to go back to them and say you want to go through disciplinary then that is your choice, but if you mean can you sue them or something like that, you really don't jhave just cause.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do and with your pregnancy.

Answer 4

Firms think of themselves and their business. OK they thought you would not be an asset to the company, due to the pregnancy, and the leave you would need, so dispensed with your services in your probationary period while they could... It would have been more difficult for them if you had completed your probation satisfactorily... They weren't prepared to take the chance... Don't think you have much chance of contesting this... Might just have to settle for a mundane part time job till the baby is here, then see where you go ... Hope you have people around you to help you,,,,

Answer 5

If you were already on probation I would say it was probably not the pregnancy that caused them to ask you to resign. I would also say that since you were on probation at the time, you have no case. Giving performance reviews and suggesting probation is part of my job, so I do have the experience to tell you, they are in the clear. They covered themselves there.

I'm sorry. I know it's stressful, but it could be better for you in the end. Best of Luck!!!

Answer 6

Concidering that you were told that your work wasnt up to standard before they knew you were pregnant, it is hard to tell if that is the reason.
I know what you're going through sort of. I was in management and they werent happy with my work though I was trying as hard as I could and not everything that was going wrong was my fault. I got disciplined (a write up) and then I starting trying really hard.Then my boss found out I was interested in moving to human relations and all of a sudden I was being told I could either step down to a lower position or have them "checking in" on me everyday. I chose to step down
Personally I think maybe they were unhappy with you for whatever reason and when they found out you were pregnant they sort of felt like, "well whats the use giving her more time she'll just have to leave for maternity leave soon" or whatever
as messed up as it is, since they said they were unhappy with your work before they knew you were pregnant, you probably wont be able to prove a thing.... but i would call your human relations people. it is against the law to discriminate against you because you are pregnant

Answer 7

the way you have explained things it doesnt seem that you were asked to resign for being pregnant but probably the expectations of the employer were higher than you had deliverd till you worked with them and asked to resign eventually . Taking this any furthur wouldnt yeild anything try for another placment I know its easier said than done in present times of stress. Best of luck anyway

Answer 8

You can take it further if you like. But odds are, even if your pregnancy IS the real reason behind all this, they will never admit to that because that's illegal. I'll bet they would stick to "their story" that you weren't preforming to their expectations. I think I might have opted for the disciplinary -- it might have shown your good intentions to stay, and it might also have brought out the "real" reason for this action. You were honest, but I can promise you that all employers aren't.

Answer 9

Well since it's been well documented on your record about your work being not up to standard and being on probation for so long prior to you being pregnant, you may not have a case. It never hurts to discuss this with your government agency that protects employment and pregnancy women while pregnant, but don't get your hopes up too high. Sorry

Answer 10

i would get legal advise! They should have let you go and think about it. They arent allowed to do that.
I worked for a Employment law firm and dealt with similar cases and they either had to re-hire or pay compensation.

SERIOUSLY. Get legal advise ASAP. And if possible go to the doctors and say that you cant stop crying because of this.
It will help your case as they will see it as they put a pregnant women in early pregnancy under immense stress!