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Original poster

New employee getting a better maternity package than everyone else

62 replies

Mlos · 04/07/2024 15:06

I work for a small private bank, we are expanding our in house wealth management so hiring.
I've recently found out the newly appointed team lead has been offered a better maternity package than everyone else as an incentive to join.
Our default maternity package is 39 weeks full pay from a year of service, then 13 weeks statutory pay.
The new employee will be getting 52 weeks full pay and then 26 weeks of 50% pay. As someone who is trying for her first child it's really annoyed me.
I'm not sure why but this new employee is getting a lot of benefits we don't usually see (enhanced pay, flexi hours that we don't usually see including 2 days of finishing at 1 and starting again at 8 for 2 hours).

AIBU to question if this is fair? Can one employee be offered a different maternity package than everyone else?

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 04/07/2024 15:51

Mlos · 04/07/2024 15:19

No and it's hard to compare by level as the other "head of's" and C-suite roles are all held by men.
The person who had to write up her contract told me.

Show quote history

That person had no business telling you.

She's negotiated and they really want her. Up to you to push for a better deal if you're valuable enough.

Hermione101 · 04/07/2024 15:49

Good for her, she negotiated it and knows her worth. She’s probably on a bigger salary than you too!

Razorwire · 04/07/2024 15:47

Mlos · 04/07/2024 15:06

I work for a small private bank, we are expanding our in house wealth management so hiring.
I've recently found out the newly appointed team lead has been offered a better maternity package than everyone else as an incentive to join.
Our default maternity package is 39 weeks full pay from a year of service, then 13 weeks statutory pay.
The new employee will be getting 52 weeks full pay and then 26 weeks of 50% pay. As someone who is trying for her first child it's really annoyed me.
I'm not sure why but this new employee is getting a lot of benefits we don't usually see (enhanced pay, flexi hours that we don't usually see including 2 days of finishing at 1 and starting again at 8 for 2 hours).

AIBU to question if this is fair? Can one employee be offered a different maternity package than everyone else?

The new employee might be given up the 52 week package by leaving, or has another offer from a firm w 52 week package.

Offers often buy out benefits /perks from other firms.

There is no issue if this is what it takes to get her.

Ive seen cash buyouts for all sorts of things. Also seen, enhanced benefits, holidays in offers. Special medical Bens..

No sane person accepts a new job for less money, less benefits.

Peonies12 · 04/07/2024 15:46

I can't believe you know what she's getting, it's definitely confidential. Surprising but she must have negotiated hard and they really want her. Your standard maternity pay is one of the most generous I've ever heard of though!

lovetoshare81 · 04/07/2024 15:44

i would be worried if i were you op

this new employee sounds like a kick-ass and she won’t put up with shit from the likes of you

SilverDoe · 04/07/2024 15:42

Couldn't be moaning about 9 months full pay and 13 weeks of SMP tbh. I thought 6 months full pay at my last role was great!

Hollyhocksarenotmessy · 04/07/2024 15:41

Jesus Christ.

If there's any written trail that she told you, you have to report this as a data breach, otherwise if it comes out later you'll be in trouble as well as her.

Tell your big mouthed mate not to share any more confidential info with you. Do you understand how serious this is? This is gross misconduct level.

Hope it hadn't got any further and you and she haven't told anyone else.

Katiesaidthat · 04/07/2024 15:36

lostpasswordagain · 04/07/2024 15:23

That is a huge data and confidentiality breach. Her package should be 100% confidential and I am shocked that someone is willing to risk their job to tell you what’s in it. You need to be very careful who else you tell because you will also be in major trouble if she/anyone in an HR/data compliance role ever finds out that info has been shared.

Show quote history

This happened to me at my previous place. As I speak English I get paid more and someone from administration blabbed about it. I did tell the office manager, who is this person´s boss that a quick course on GDPR was needed and god knows what else she was blabbing about. The boss didn´t say anything, there wasn´t much she could say.

Goldpanther · 04/07/2024 15:35

I prioritised negotiating 52 weeks full pay when I switched jobs. Much more beneficial for me than an extra few £1000s in salary.

Whatevershallidowithmylife · 04/07/2024 15:31

Given you and HR are gossiping about what should be extremely confidential I guess there's a reason she's getting such a good package - you two need to up your game professionally and you might be in with a chance to negotiate something better in due course.

Idroppedthescrewinthetuna · 04/07/2024 15:29

Fair play to her.
YABU for 1. Knowing her package. I would have you and whoever wrote up the contract fired for GM in an instant.
You should really report that you were told this... unless you asked! Which in that case YABVU

lovetoshare81 · 04/07/2024 15:24

i suspect the op will shuffle off now
either way, team new colleague!!!

lostpasswordagain · 04/07/2024 15:23

Mlos · 04/07/2024 15:19

No and it's hard to compare by level as the other "head of's" and C-suite roles are all held by men.
The person who had to write up her contract told me.

Show quote history

That is a huge data and confidentiality breach. Her package should be 100% confidential and I am shocked that someone is willing to risk their job to tell you what’s in it. You need to be very careful who else you tell because you will also be in major trouble if she/anyone in an HR/data compliance role ever finds out that info has been shared.

Hoppinggreen · 04/07/2024 15:23

Mlos · 04/07/2024 15:19

No and it's hard to compare by level as the other "head of's" and C-suite roles are all held by men.
The person who had to write up her contract told me.

Show quote history

Thats very unprofessional

JurassicClark · 04/07/2024 15:22

Good for her!

Time for you to start looking for somewhere new, and negotiating a similar package for yourself, perhaps?

LeedsZebra90 · 04/07/2024 15:22

Are you sure the person that told you has it right? Seems bizarre to want someone so much but equally happy for them to be off for 18 months on mat leave. Enhanced package in terms of pay understandable, but the length of time is unheard of (for me anyway!)

lovetoshare81 · 04/07/2024 15:22

company probably desperate to recruit high calibre given the OP and her HR friend who disclosed this to her

lovetoshare81 · 04/07/2024 15:21

how long have you been at the company?

are you senior?

so you and her are exactly same level?

FTPM1980 · 04/07/2024 15:21

Mlos · 04/07/2024 15:19

No and it's hard to compare by level as the other "head of's" and C-suite roles are all held by men.
The person who had to write up her contract told me.

Show quote history

Wow! They should be reported!

Is it just coincidence all these mat pay threads at the same time then?

lovetoshare81 · 04/07/2024 15:20

Mlos · 04/07/2024 15:19

No and it's hard to compare by level as the other "head of's" and C-suite roles are all held by men.
The person who had to write up her contract told me.

Show quote history

very unprofessional of them

and you know the benefit packages for everyone?

TulipCat · 04/07/2024 15:19

She knows her value, and has been willing to move jobs in order to negotiate for it. You could do the same.

Original poster
Mlos · 04/07/2024 15:19

lovetoshare81 · 04/07/2024 15:17

same level as you?

how did you find out?

No and it's hard to compare by level as the other "head of's" and C-suite roles are all held by men.
The person who had to write up her contract told me.

OP posts:
lovetoshare81 · 04/07/2024 15:18

Mlos · 04/07/2024 15:17

@FTPM1980

I'm certain, 39 weeks full pay and 13 weeks at the rate of SMP.
And I'm certain she has been offered 52 weeks full pay and 26 weeks 50% pay.

how do you know this?

lovetoshare81 · 04/07/2024 15:18

I'm not sure why but this new employee is getting a lot of benefits we don't usually see

They want her badly

crumblingschools · 04/07/2024 15:18

Your maternity package is pretty impressive