Maternity entitlement...

[Kate123cl]

Hello,
Im 26+4 weeks pregnant so I'm due to have a baby on 25.01.19 and ideally would like to start my maternity leave ASAP for various health issues. Agreed to leave on 30.11.18.
I have always worked 37.5 hours, full time. Yesterday, my boss asked if I'd like to reduce my days from 5 days to 3 until my maternity leave starts. I said it'd be great. I had a call from my HR today and she explained that if I reduced my hours from now until my maternity leave starts, this would effect my maternity pay. Our policy is 13weeks full pay, 13weeks half pay (or SMP whichever most) and then the rest at SMP. Does anyone know if this sounds right? I thought it'd still be based on my full time hours seeing I've always worked those hours up until, potentially, now.
Thanks for your help!

[dementedpixie]

If you were just getting SMP then the qualifying period for the amount of SMP would have already passed. As you are getting occupational pay as well then they get to choose the terms and conditions for full payment

[Figgygal]

Ask them for a copy of the maternity policy but if he's suggested you change your contract then yes maternity pay would continue on those reduced hours.

[Lazypuppy]

Yes that sounds right. You get full pay based on when you leave, not what you used to do

[flowery]

Depends entirely on how the terms and conditions of your maternity pay are worded.

[greendale17]

You get full pay based on when you leave, not what you used to do

^This

[flowery]

”You get full pay based on when you leave, not what you used to do”

Unless you’ve read the OP’s maternity policy you can’t possibly know that for sure. Plenty of employers calculate ‘full pay’ for these purposes as being what the woman was earning at the time SMP was calculated. For this exact reason- so that heavily pregnant women can temporarily reduce their hours without being penalised.

The OP’s employer may or may not do that, but you can’t say with any authority what figure her employer should be using as ‘full pay’ unless you’ve read the relevant policy/terms and conditions.

[Notacluewhatthisis]

Every enhanced MAT pay I have seen has said they work it out as an average over a qualifying period or the pay you are on when you go on MAT leave.

When I went on MAT leave they looked at the the 12 weeks before the week u went on MAT leave.

So you need to see their policy on working it out. Chances are, that they are correct.