To ask who signed the extension of mat leave and why?

[Tjsmumma]

Self explanatory really..

If you signed it why? Why do you feel you and entitled to more time paid? Do you think being in lockdown is more of a right to more time of PAID than people who have babies who are delivered early or need NICU stays?

I am myself on maternity with a 19 week old and i still do not think its fair to say 'i need more time off paid because i wasnt able to go to a mother and baby group' theres plenty of time to go after.

I can sort of understand if you are due to go back and cant find child care but surely you can be furloughed or claim SSP/Benefits during this time like the rest of the country?

[Serg]

It’s absolute nonsense, I’ve got a sore head even thinking about it.

[Cornettoninja]

I see their point but completely disagree with it.

Lots of women don’t get to have a fun packed maternity leave, I certainly didn’t due to a fractious baby who somehow managed to thwart every outing till about four months and then became a slave to nap times (!). She got more portable and fun after she turned one and my maternity leave was well and truly over!

Maternity leave is to care for your baby and recover from pregnancy/birth. Lockdown affects neither. The only real issue I see is being unable to settle a baby into a childcare setting the way you would normally.

[MummaGiles]

It’s grabby nonsense. I am sorry that people haven’t had the maternity leave they envisaged, and I worry for those who may be suffering with PND as a result, but to extend paid leave is madness.

As a disclaimer I am on maternity leave myself at the moment.

[Fedhimtotigers]

I think it's ridiculous. And I've had to return to work early solely due to Covid and have missed out on months of my last Mat leave.

[Tjsmumma]

I get about settling a baby into a setting as a nursery worker yes its difficult but then only people just comjng off mat leave would be eligible for it and there would be an out cry of people wanting the same as they have missed 'crucial' time with their babies but had lots of time with them.

I agree with what they are saying and god dont get me wrong id love it but i just feel its absolutely ridiculous imho but seem like everyone else completely disagrees!

[Pineapple1]

Same woman signing it who would want Boris to give up his paltry 2 weeks.

[Crunchymum]

I posted this on the last one but how thick are people to not understand the last 3 months are (in the huge majority of ML packages) unpaid? So if you take a years leave then you only get paid for 9 months anyway!!!

Petitioning for an additional unpaid 3 months would have made more sense [I'd still utterly against it though!]

[TheWorldKickedBack]

Grabby. We are lucky enough to have the amount of leave we have especially when you look at the likes of America. People should be thinking about whether or not they will have a job at the end of this rather than trying to claw back extra time.

[Tjsmumma]

@pineapple1 most definitely!

@Crunchymum because they obviously want it paid! Lots of claims that 'others have had support, we need support as well' which i agree to some degree but just simply dont also!

[Beakyok]

Currently on maternity leave and can’t believe that someone can even feel this way, never mind vocalise it and start a petition. Anyone who believes in this comes across as a self centred and whinging person. There are far bigger things at stake at the moment and far more important things for the government to be focused on.

[Crunchymum]

My point is, if you are having a period of unpaid leave then where is the logic to expect even more leave but have that extra paid?

(I have had x3 ML and have taken a year each time so I have done the period of being completely unpaid)

It seemed to me like the person who started it - and the vast majority of people who signed it, do not understand how ML works?

[DollyDaph10]

I think it’s shocking (and I’m about to go on Mat leave myself in a few months). No it won’t be how I pictured it, but life is different for everyone at the moment.

[Vans12]

It's a ridiculous and self indulgent thing to 'petition' for.

[Tjsmumma]

Now seeing mums whos babies are only 5 weeks claiming they need more time off. Making me so frustrated. They'll soon be going off on one when all their taxes go up! And jobs are unable to continue paying/contracts run out. Just frustrating that if you want more time off take it but dont expect to be paid! I don't know maybe im just the opposite to all these people.

[Pogopogopogo]

I'm probably going to get slaughtered here but it is a knee jerk reaction to a shit situation. If this is offered most people would take I imagine. I certainly will. Selfish maybe but I'd be stupid to turn it down. However, this won't get passed in a million years. It will be listened to because of the outcry.

[Tjsmumma]

@pogopogopogo I think a lot of people would, in an ideal world it would be lovely to have more time paid with mt daughter, id love it. But, i think its such a selfish thing to ask considering the rest of the UK is in tatters. Im hoping it doesn't get passed and im myself on mat leave.

[Sunshineandflipflops]

I think there are far more important things to think about at the moment and to spend money on.

When I had my dd it was only 6 months paid ML. She was born 9 weeks early so I didn’t get any time to ‘prepare’ as I was at work when it happened and she spent the first 6 weeks of her life (and my ML) in SCBU so should I have had more time off?
Never even occurred to me that I’d been ‘short changed’ as I was just so grateful my dad was alive. I’d have loved more time off but 6 months was all I could have as couldn’t afford extra unpaid leave. I think women are very lucky to get 9 months now!

[Sunshineandflipflops]

*dd, not dad 🙄

[GrumpyHoonMain]

I have signed it in the hope they’ll agree to something unpaid. DS’ nursery place is not guaranteed and I won’t be able to even look for alternatives until Sept by which point I will have 3 weeks to sort something out before restarting my keyworker job.

[Pogopogopogo]

I think most people are selfish when it comes to their children and family. I'm lucky I don't need the money but would love the extra time particularly as I'm going back to a job which puts us all at risk. My family were going to have the LO. If they can't he'll have to go to nursery with other high risk parents' babies. It is a concern but we'll have to roll with it but given the chance to protect my family longer I'd take it and happily be selfish.

[CaptainBlunderpants]

I don’t agree with it, a few of my fb friends have shared the petition saying ‘please sign this it’s important’ but without saying why.

[GrumpyHoonMain]

And there are babies who haven’t had vaccinations. Some babies who haven’t had necessary treatment due to Covid. My son should have had hypospadias treatment but now won’t until the end of my ML. Just because you and the minority are fine and dandy and would spend the extra time swanning off to baby groups it doesn’t mean the majority don’t have valid reasons for needing the extra time. Some of us (like me) can afford unpaid but many on low salaries may need it paid.

[Tjsmumma]

@GrumpyHoonMain i completely understand that and think yes if you are due back and cannto find childcare in immediate then yes something should be pjt in place. Its people who have DC who are 5 weeks old and claim they need more time off that will be next year at this point.

We have had time to sit at home, not expose ourselves to it etc and have had the crucial time we need to recover and be with our DC.

[MumofBees]

My baby was 2.5 months when this 'lockdown' started. I was just physically and mentally well enough to start taking her to a class, trying to build a network of friends with children (I currently have very few) and was trying to slowly introduce my baby to the world.

My SMP will only go up until September.

No nurseries seem to be working or responding to calls/emails so I cant even begin to try to find childcare (I had planned to start doing so when she was 3 months old, which perhaps is late but no one tells you that when you're pregnant).

My parents were also going to help with childcare but now cannot for the forseeable future as one is immunocompromised.

I know there are more important issues, but until we know when lockdown restrictions will ease, and when nurseries will open, I have literally no idea how I am going to manage.

It isn't about being grabby, it's about people caring for their babies.

[Tjsmumma]

@GrumpyHoonMain Actually my DD hasnt had her 12 and 16 week jabs. I personally would go back to work when i was due to due to needing the money i couldnt take the unpaid leave. Im not asking for anything extra because i do not feel i deserve it. If i couldn't go back (im a nursery worker) id claim the necessary benefits or go on furlough like the rest of my company. Its that simple.