Maternity pay bullsh*t for teachers

I understand this but when you’re job hunting you need to be aware of these things! I had my first child employed by a hospital trust and had their ‘good’ mat leave (can’t remember what it was but something like 90% for first 6 weeks then 50% + stat for 6 months) which allowed me 6 months + accrued leave off work. My next job was full pay for 6 months then half pay for 3 which allowed me 11 months off with my second. Mat pay at my current job is only slightly better than stat and worse than my previous too but I’m not planning any more kids. I agree Mat pay some places is rotten but it was a massive consideration for me when applying for jobs around baby age!

I got 1 week at 100%, 4 weeks at 50% and then statutory mat pay.

It's not discrimination, men get less unless the mum basically gives the dad her leave.
Like other posters have said it's not a teacher thing either. Unless you mean it's okay for people to get SMP but teachers should get more.
Have the maternity pay rules at your employer changed since you started there? IE did they used to pay enhanced and have changed it fairly recently?

SMP is rubbish but many small employers would not be able to afford more while also paying maternity cover. Are we prepared to pay more tax or what should be cut for more SMP.
I was a trainee in LA legal and the employment solicitors tried their best for employee rights for the school staff including non teaching when there was academisation of LA schools. It wasn’t easy and of course would not have helped with new academies or new employees.

for the teachers around at the time what were the unions doing- did they play a big role?

Ignore. In true MN fashion, someone always needs to turn it into a race to the bottom. Teachers get the same maternity leave across the country, just like I imagine NHS nurses do. Nurses wouldn’t be happy if their local hospitals were privatised and their maternity pay was dramatically cut either.

I'm in an academy and we follow the burgundy book for maternity pay.

My academy matched the local authority/standard UK maternity pay. What you’re describing is my issue with academies - they wiggle out of responsibilities and meeting minimum expectations for both staff and pupils.

It’s awful isn’t it! Not sure if I’m able to post links but urging you to find the teachersspl website - you can use your shared parental leave to essentially ‘go back’ to work in the Christmas, Easter and summer holidays to get paid even though you’ll still be at home with baby. There is loads of info on the website to support you in setting it up. Have a look then book in a meeting with HR, it still doesn’t make up for the awful maternity pay but should hopefully help a little.

its awful, buts it’s also what I got working for one of the biggest beauty companies in the world. A lot of private companies only offer statutory too, it’s not just the public sector.

This. I have no idea why you're making this a teacher thing

I found the link!: https://www.teachersspl.co.uk/how-it-works

Why are you making it about teachers, when it is standard maternity pay for many employees.

Sorry I completely forgot to say, that this tactic of pausing maternity can be used it you do shared parental leave. Your husband doesn’t need to actually go on leave when you pause your maternity during the holidays either ( so you’re just saying it’s shared when it’s not really- Perfectly legal, many teachers do it) . Just make it clear to school you are going to do the shared parental leave in the holidays so technically you will be “ at work during the holidays. There is a website that goes through all this. Will try find it tomorrow

Which bit? The 500 pound bit or the pausing your maternity? If you go on your union website- should say there. If not, I will try find a link for you tomorrow

I get that. But this is the situation for most people. We just deal with it somehow. It's not up to workplaces to take the cost of everyone having their babies.

My second was an accident born just as our (renovation) house sale completed which wiped every single penny of our savings on deposit/essential renovations. We couldn’t afford to save again and so I went back to work after 4 months because my job only offered SMP. With my first I had 6 months full pay so wasn’t really an issue!
Between us can afford 2x childcare and costs of having kids but timing meant there was no pot of savings available. Its not always that black and white I don’t think 🤷🏼‍♀️

If 2 full time earners can't save money before having children, then maybe they need to rethink having children. Where will they magic the money from for a new baby, everything that goes with that, childcare and so on?

I can't remember completely but am sure it was more than that? 2015. X

SMP is shit, but it's not illegal and it's not discriminatory.

I’ve always thought that part of planning for a baby is saving (not counting for surprise pregnancies) so mat pay is in addition. You’re literally receiving money for not working and staying home with your baby and having your job held for you. It really is true that the more you give people the more they want. My family is in the states so maybe I’m just coloured by that as I was so grateful to be in England when I had my babies.

For context I had 2 pregnancies including twins (no extra support financially for twins btw).

You should read how teachers are paid.

Getting better benefits and/or pay isn’t being “treated fairly”. Why do you feel so entitled when women up and down the country get statutory maternity pay?

im a single mum and I saved for maternity leave so I was fine.

Sorry but it really isn’t. It’s minimum statutory maternity pay. Lots of people get that. You have to prepare and save to take more time off or get a job with better benefits if that’s important to you. Not just expect people to give you whatever you want

What I would do is leave.... I'd hand in my notice OP you can claim SMP at the job centre anyway so if that's all they are willing to offer then bye bye good teacher, their loss.

Civil service gives (some of) its workers 6 months on full pay when on ML.