Answer by Laura Livingstone

It is not really possible to say with any certainty as to whether or not you should be worried about your position being at risk.  However the following points are in your favour :

1. Your manager has told you that she does not think that your department will be affected.  Although, of course, this is not a categoric statement which could be relied upon, you could refer back to this should circumstances change and indicate that assurances were given that your position and that of the department's would not be affected.

2. Being on maternity leave, should you be put at risk you would need to be considered in priority for any positions available.

3. You do have the right to return to the same job unless it does not exist when you would need to be considered for a similar job. Otherwise you would be entitled to statutory redundancy pay if you have worked there over two years, and to notice.  Whether you would have a claim for anything else would depend on circumstances.

Laura Livingstone is an employment lawyer for Davenport Lyons in London. Her practice focuses on contentious and non-contentious employment work, but she leans towards the non-contentious.  She has advised a wide variety of corporate clients in all areas of employment.