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Original poster

Maternity pay bullsh*t for teachers

194 replies

Teacherprebaby · 03/07/2024 22:02

My school (state/academy), offers 6 weeks at 90% and the remaining at SMP so £185 a week. This is discrimination against women who want to have children. Am I being unreasonable to bring this up with my school?

OP posts:
Mummy2024 · 03/07/2024 23:03

Turquoise19 · 03/07/2024 23:01

Perhaps it offsets all those paid holidays you have. Remind us, how many weeks is it?

As do council run schools, they most likely get OMP, hardly fair is it...

Turquoise19 · 03/07/2024 23:01

Perhaps it offsets all those paid holidays you have. Remind us, how many weeks is it?

FacingTheWall · 03/07/2024 23:01

That’s what happens when you work for an academy. It shouldn’t have come as a shock, particularly because I’m sure maternity pay isn’t the only difference in your pay and conditions compared to Burgundy Book schools.

Mummy2024 · 03/07/2024 23:00

Teacherprebaby · 03/07/2024 22:02

I'd like to hear from other teachers please. Is it the same in all state run academies?

Apply for universal credit to top it up, absolutely disgraceful though. How long have you been there? I thought OPM was paid for 16 weeks before it went to just SMP.

floralfrog · 03/07/2024 23:00

Single mothers qualify for uc when on smp I believe

Perfect28 · 03/07/2024 22:58

@MightWusk you realise that in this economic climate many people are unable to save, particularly to save enough to essentially stop earning for several months. Not to mention that not many pregnancies are precisely planned for.

Ooral · 03/07/2024 22:55

Teacherprebaby · 03/07/2024 22:02

My school (state/academy), offers 6 weeks at 90% and the remaining at SMP so £185 a week. This is discrimination against women who want to have children. Am I being unreasonable to bring this up with my school?

That is the minimum by law, it is the same for a huge portion of society / UK working people. I'd hazard a guess the vast majority.

IhateJan22 · 03/07/2024 22:54

I don’t think it’s just teachers, my place is the same.

1234512345Meh · 03/07/2024 22:54

Teacherprebaby · 03/07/2024 22:37

I've been googling and I cannot see this anywhere.

Show quote history

This is re using shared parental leave to get paid in full during some holidays.
https://www.teachersspl.co.uk

Maternity Leave | Teacher Shared Parental Leave

https://www.teachersspl.co.uk

DappledThings · 03/07/2024 22:54

If you think SMP is too low that's fair enough but your title singles out teachers who get the same SMP as anyone else.

That's all people are going to take from your post now, that you think teachers should get a higher rate of SMP than other women. Probably worth asking MN to amend your thread title if that isn't what you meant.

MightWusk · 03/07/2024 22:54

Teacherprebaby · 03/07/2024 22:27

It's discrimination against women. You need support from your partner (usually a man) to be able to afford to live. It's shocking that women have allowed this to continue for as long as it has!

Show quote history

Or you could save beforehand knowing you'll be on maternity pay.

Namechangencncnc · 03/07/2024 22:53

My friends who got SMP and aren't teachers then got holiday on the end of their mat leave that they had accrued on full pay. Teachers don't get that.
SMP is crap anyway.

Google teacher shared parental leave and see if your school will let you do it. Mine didn't but I know people who have.

qwertyasdfgzxcv · 03/07/2024 22:53

Same in private schools. I think you get a really good deal but only if your school follows the burgundy book

Birdingbear · 03/07/2024 22:51

Discrimination ffs. 🙄
Welcome to the Real world where nearly all of us get paid that!

BarryCantSwim · 03/07/2024 22:48

This is not a teacher issue. It’s an issue for all women since the government thinks this should be the statutory minimum. The fact ‘enhanced maternity’ is considered a benefit in some businesses tells you all you need to know.

Slofter · 03/07/2024 22:44

HelloMelloo · 03/07/2024 22:15

Same everywhere OP, why should teachers be different?!

Obviously not the same everywhere given that teachers in LA schools get enhanced maternity pay, as do many many people in many many jobs. I have friends who got 6 months or more on full pay. But OP it's about the terms and conditions of the job and unfortunately that's what they are for the job you accepted.

Proudmummy67 · 03/07/2024 22:42

Oh I totally agree with you! I think maternity pay in this country is one of the worst in Europe. You've got to hope your partner earns a decent amount to help you live. That's if you're together too!

I'm a teacher currently on maternity and get the burgundy book from my state school, which is better than what you've said you get. Have you spoken to them about it?

I do feel in this country that woman are not supported enough in order to spend enough time with their baby after they are born. Those first few months are so important and to give them the best little start in life. They need to be with their mama but we are forced apart from them too early.

Original poster
Teacherprebaby · 03/07/2024 22:40

Overthebow · 03/07/2024 22:37

You can ask for the t&cs before starting a job. You don’t have to accept it. Some teaching jobs have better mat pay. Some other jobs have better pay too, and others are stat pay only, much like sick pay. I chose a job that had a good maternity package and turned down another which didn’t.

Edited
Show quote history

I get that, I'm lucky that we will be fine. I've been at this school for years, I shouldn't have to leave to be treated fairly. I just can't believe women in this country have been accepting this as normal. I feel for single mothers who spilt from partners whilst on maternity leave, how do they cope!

OP posts:
RishiIsACuntWaffle · 03/07/2024 22:39

Not all academies follow the "burgundy book" for teachers

Original poster
Teacherprebaby · 03/07/2024 22:37

wellington77 · 03/07/2024 22:09

Hi im on maternity as a teacher. From your post im not entirely sure if you know about the statutory maternity pay you get from the government? So you get 500 quid a month from the government ( I think up to 6 months) could be wrong, and about 180 odd quid a week from the school. Last month I was paid 1600 odd ish in my third month of maternity, my usual pay is 2040, I work 4 days a week. If I was you I would sit down with your finance manager at school and they can tell you how much you would get paid each month. you can also pause your maternity ever school holiday and “ work” your not really working but you get paid in full those weeks and then restart your maternity at the end of the holiday. Eg you could pause maternity for the Easter hols for two weeks- get full pay then restart maternity at the end of the Easter hols from where you left off.

I've been googling and I cannot see this anywhere.

OP posts:
Overthebow · 03/07/2024 22:37

Teacherprebaby · 03/07/2024 22:29

That's not the point. Yes we 'get it'. My point is that we should not accept it!

Show quote history

You can ask for the t&cs before starting a job. You don’t have to accept it. Some teaching jobs have better mat pay. Some other jobs have better pay too, and others are stat pay only, much like sick pay. I chose a job that had a good maternity package and turned down another which didn’t.

Original poster
Teacherprebaby · 03/07/2024 22:29

Overthebow · 03/07/2024 22:14

How is that discrimination? That’s SMP isn’t it? Loads get this in many jobs.

That's not the point. Yes we 'get it'. My point is that we should not accept it!

OP posts:
Original poster
Teacherprebaby · 03/07/2024 22:27

Overthebow · 03/07/2024 22:14

How is that discrimination? That’s SMP isn’t it? Loads get this in many jobs.

It's discrimination against women. You need support from your partner (usually a man) to be able to afford to live. It's shocking that women have allowed this to continue for as long as it has!

OP posts:
NoHunsHereHun · 03/07/2024 22:25

It’s shit, but it’s not sex discrimination, unless they are paying more to men who have children? It’s the legal (statutory) amount.

modgepodge · 03/07/2024 22:19

HelloMelloo · 03/07/2024 22:15

Same everywhere OP, why should teachers be different?!

Teachers under the ‘burgundy book’ terms and conditions (most state school teachers) get much more than that. OP is unlucky to worth in an academy which can cut costs on things like this.