Advice about pregnancy?

[ASB]

Personally I don't want contractors to be protected by discrimination laws. I'm a business. I get the benefits of being a business in my own right so I don't want protecting by the government.

Well I disagree. Discrimination and employment protection/rights are very different things.

Let's assume you are are black Irish gay Muslim. What you are in effect saying is that it is perfectly ok for your clients (and their staff) to refer to you as the "Bantu Leprecoon Katwa Fudgepacker".

Discrimination is perfectly legal except where it is specifically outlawed. I personally think that everybody should get the same protection.

[SueEllen]

I looked at two sources:
1. http://www.pcg.org.uk/cms/index.php?...380&Itemid=643

The PCG state that contractors are covered under the discrimination laws.

2. According to a the law website http://www.emplaw.co.uk/ "contract workers" are covered by the discrimination acts.

A "contract worker" is an employee who is sent by his employer to do work for a third party. The third party is called the "principal" for the purposes of the [Acts]

Under the law the person/company who the contractor is doing the work for, "the principle", is liable for discriminatory acts as through they were the employer.

[TykeMerc]

Interesting thread, obviously I'm the wrong gender for this to be of direct concern to me, but I had never considered the scenario.

[othello]

I had a similar experience in 2006, I was in 1yr contract, got the contarct through an agency and billed through my LTD company. 7months into the contract I notified my manger that I was 12weeks pregnant, and that I was happy to carry on till the end of my contract in feb 07 ad baby wad due Apr 07.
A week after telling him, he called into a meeting room and told me my services were no longer required as the level of support I provided was inadequate, he asked me to leave the same day even though I had 4wks notice on my contract. (I got paid for that)
Cut very long story short, a solicitor friend adviced and supported me, took the case to tribunal on sex discrimination grounds against both agency and and company as I was regarded as a 'Worker' of the company.
I had a very good case, because the company couldn't produce any documentation to show that there were complaints about my work...
Anyway about a couple of months before the hearing, I settled out of court for a very handsone 5 figure sum, and was blessed enough to pick up another 3months contract before baby came....

[Mustang]

I was worried about this thread at when I read the title......! I am glad I actually read the contents...!!

FWIW, I claimed SPP for both my kids.

[expat]

Well I disagree. Discrimination and employment protection/rights are very different things.

Let's assume you are are black Irish gay Muslim. What you are in effect saying is that it is perfectly ok for your clients (and their staff) to refer to you as the "Bantu Leprecoon Katwa Fudgepacker".

No, it is not, because that is between the client and you. The contract is not between the client and you.

[expat]

The end client is not your employer, your Ltd company is.
Once you get your head round that the rest of it becomes simpler.

I think so too. However I am not responsible for the possibly illogical thoughts of HMG, HMRC, GB, TUC, DWP, judges, etc....