Hi everyone. Do bear with me as this is going to be a long post.
I have been working in Company X for close to 4 years. Last month, I was being terminated with immediate effect by the company while I was 16 weeks pregnant without any maternity compensation or notice in lieu payment.
I strongly believe that the termination was related to my pregnancy as I have been facing discrimination up to the point of my termination.
During my first trimester of pregnancy, I had a series of events which required me to seek medical attention due to brown spotting.
I had been recommended by the doctor to be placed on light duties at work until my condition stabilises as my condition has a risk of a miscarriage.
I had a discussion with my boss and we have mutually agreed that I will be taking unpaid leave for the next 30 days as they do not have any light duties to put me on.
I had a high fever on the 30th day and I went to a clinic where the doctor has taken my temperature and prescribed me pregnancy safe medication and was given a 5 days MC to recover at home.
When I returned back to work after the 30+5 days and my condition stabilised, I was then told I will be placed under a Performance Improvement Program as they would like to monitor my working performance and attendance.
Upon enquiring on what was the act of misconduct being committed, my boss and manager has very begrudgingly claimed that I have not been considering how my team were working hard to cover me during my absence and this has caused disruptions in their operations.
I was reluctant to sign as I feared that this would mean that I have acknowledged that I have committed a wrongdoing which I found it appalling to be accused of this when it was a mutual agreement for me to be away in order for my pregnancy to stabilise.
I was then being told that it is not by choice for me to acknowledge and I would have to sign the PIP agreement or hand in my resignation letter.
For context, we are working in a retail and shift environment and 5.5 days a week. I have never had any performance issues even prior to my pregnancy and I have had many good reviews on the company’s Google Page Reviews and returning customers who looks for me.
I have even recommended my friends and family members to engage in the company’s product and services and my relationship with my boss and manager has been good up until the point where they found out I was pregnant.
I have even tendered my resignation in 2022 and was counter offered to stay on with them. I suspect that this move of placing me under PIP was a calculated move in order to fulfil the requirements set out on MOM website to terminate me eventually despite pregnancy protection.
After this incident, I noticed a change of attitude towards me from my boss and manager during work. Whenever they found an opportunity to shout or scold me, they would take it.
I would lament to my family members at home about how miserable at work I am and if I should resign. With their encouragement, I decided to grit my teeth and stay on as I do have a BTO which is estimated to be complete on June 2024 and I would be needing to have an income to acquire a sufficient quantum of HDB loan.
About a month later, I was being called in to a room by my boss and manager. They have alleged that I have influenced my colleague to join rival companies and I have breached a non-solicitation clause stated in my employment contract that I am not allowed to influence or attempt to influence a colleague to join rival companies during my employment with them.
This has caused me to be confused as they alleged that the colleague who I influenced to join a rival company is the colleague who I have referred in to join us 2 months ago.
My colleague has shared with me that she has been quite stressed to be working in such a fast paced environment and has been even crying to her mother at home. She confided in me if she should resign and move on to a slower paced environment.
I have shared with my colleague the pros and cons of leaving now as most companies may question on why would she leave her current employment after such a short stay, but if the mental health is more important to her, there are a lot of job postings online to explore.
Somehow, there was another colleague who was eavesdropping on our conversation and have reported this to my boss. My boss then told me that it is either I hand in my resignation or they will be presenting me with a termination letter with immediate effect without any maternity compensation or notice in lieu.
I have chosen the latter and I have reported this matter to TADM which I will be seeking compensation on my maternity benefit and notice in lieu.
Now the biggest concern I have now is, I am having a very hard time securing a new role due to my pregnancy and no company would be willing to hire me now and I have a BTO ready in June 2024.
I am unable to work until maybe about February or March 2024 after my rest from my estimated delivery date in November 2023.
Would like to seek some advise if anyone here has any similar scenarios where they would be able to share how or what can I expect from here on?
Thank you so much for reading up till this point and appreciate any kind responses.
TLDR; I was being wrongfully terminated while being pregnant and I am concerned over how I can obtain a sufficient quantum for my BTO loan which I am able to collect my keys in June 2024.