reduced hours and social welfare

ryry2016

Just looking for some advice if anyone can help..

My contract is for 37.5 hours. When I came back from maternity leave in 2012 my working hours were reduced to 22.5 over three days. I claimed social welfare for the other two days until it ran out.

Despite repeatedly asking for them to be increased my hours they remained this way until I went on maternity leave again in 2016.
Because my contract was still for 37.5 hours this is what I was paid while on maternity leave (my company tops up to full salary) and I had the benefits of a full time worker while on unpaid leave.

When I came back from maternity leave this month again I asked for my contracted hours 37.5 but again was told I could only have 22.5 hours (despite still having a 37.5 hour contract).

So I guess my question is because I was being paid and treated like a full time worker for the last year can I now claim social welfare as my salary has now reduced to a three day worker?

infogiver

I see what your getting at.
Your saying that you've once again "suffered a loss of employment " and want your JSB for 2 days.
Someone from SW might come along because I don't know.
It's an interesting query though

alig123aileen

ryry2016 wrote: »

Just looking for some advice if anyone can help..

My contract is for 37.5 hours. When I came back from maternity leave in 2012 my working hours were reduced to 22.5 over three days. I claimed social welfare for the other two days until it ran out.

Despite repeatedly asking for them to be increased my hours they remained this way until I went on maternity leave again in 2016.
Because my contract was still for 37.5 hours this is what I was paid while on maternity leave (my company tops up to full salary) and I had the benefits of a full time worker while on unpaid leave.

When I came back from maternity leave this month again I asked for my contracted hours 37.5 but again was told I could only have 22.5 hours (despite still having a 37.5 hour contract).

So I guess my question is because I was being paid and treated like a full time worker for the last year can I now claim social welfare as my salary has now reduced to a three day worker?

Your employer cannot reduce your hours because you were on maternity leave! And yes claim from DSP again and any issues tell them to contact your Employer as there is a precedent there.

infogiver

alig123aileen wrote: »

Your employer cannot reduce your hours because you were on maternity leave! And yes claim from DSP again and any issues tell them to contact your Employer as there is a precedent there.

It's proving that the hours were reduced because she went on maternity leave that's the big problem.
The firm might have downsized in that period and being on maternity leave sick leave or any other kind of leave doesn't exclude you from measures that affect the whole company.
There's also a statute of limitations on making a complaint under the maternity act.

eastbono

I think this is more an employment issue rather than a SW issue with reference to a full time employee being hired while you are on MAT but when you return then its only a 3 day week job.
In relation to SW. If your normal working week is 3 days a week and from what you say your benefit exhausted then when you requalify for benefit then you havent suffered any loss of employment or earnings. Not I may be wrong but if you apply for allowance rather than benefit then AFAIK it doesnt matter if your usual working week is only 3 days but your payment is means tested... your income as well as partners/spouses.