Agency worker maternity entitlements

winterwonder

Hi,

Does anyone have any information on the entitlements of an agency worker for maternity leave.? I have been an agency worker with the same company for 3 years, am I entitled to maternity pay and would I get my job back in the same company after the maternity leave? Has anyone been in this situation? Any help would be really appreciated as I've tried searching everywhere but can't find anything on this subject, thanks

Fairie

winterwonder wrote: »

Hi,

Does anyone have any information on the entitlements of an agency worker for maternity leave.? I have been an agency worker with the same company for 3 years, am I entitled to maternity pay and would I get my job back in the same company after the maternity leave? Has anyone been in this situation? Any help would be really appreciated as I've tried searching everywhere but can't find anything on this subject, thanks

Hi,
I haven't been in the same situation so I'm not sure about getting job back after maternity maybe check that out with citizens information and/or your employer?
Re maternity pay you need to check with social welfare if you have any entitlement to social welfare mat benefit. You can check with your local office or download form and apply that way. Some employers top up the difference between sw mat pay and actual salary but you would need to check this with your HR department.
Hth

Little My

Phone the maternity benefit section in Buncrana and check with them if you are entitled to the statutory maternity benefit. I would imagine you are, but they are really easy to talk to. They pretty much just need your PPS number to check it on their system.

Then check with your HR department - every company has it's own maternity rules, but I would imagine they would have to take you back after the statutory maternity leave.

winterwonder

Thanks so much for the replies, they were very helpful, do ye think I should get onto the agency or the company I work for, without saying too much it's in the healthcare, I basically don't have any contact with the agency, just working for this department with the last 3 years, I guess I'm just afraid to ask the actual hr dept in the company I work for in case they put two and two together and let me go before I apply for it, I know technically they can't do this I keep being told the job isn't secure and they keep hiring internally, I guess the agency should be able to answer this instead of the company where I work, I've just put so much into this job and would be gutted to be left go or not get it back

Moonbeam

The maternity pay is paid by social welfare and is based on prsi contributions if you are an agency worker talk to citizens advice 1st then talk to the agency.
The company do not employ you the agency do but talk to them after you talk to the agency anyway.

winterwonder

Thanks Moonbeam, I'll get onto citizens information first and hopefully they can advise me more, thanks again

Dingle_berry

Agency workers have the same basic entitlements now as directly employed staff. The legislation seemed to slip in and many are unaware of it!
See http://www.djei.ie/employment/rights/TAW_Guidance.pdf

If there is a union you can join maybe seek their opinion?