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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:
Original poster
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.

OP posts:
lovetoshare81 · 04/07/2024 15:17

same level as you?

how did you find out?

lovetoshare81 · 04/07/2024 15:16

she’s done some impressive negotiation

and rather than you see it as an opportunity for you to do the same, you whinge

FTPM1980 · 04/07/2024 15:16

Mlos · 04/07/2024 15:12

You're right it's just that the last 13 weeks are paid at the rate of statutory maternity pay.

Show quote history

Are you absolutely sure about that?
And it's not 39 weeks full.pay and 13 weeks no pay?

Given she is new...and your policy only kicks in after year...it would make sense she has negotiated an enhancement....which would make more sense to be 52 weeks mat leave, 26 weeks at full pay and 26 weeks at half pay.

It's easy for the details to get lost in translation and people to misunderstand what has actually been offered.

Hoppinggreen · 04/07/2024 15:12

Good for her

Original poster
Mlos · 04/07/2024 15:12

FTPM1980 · 04/07/2024 15:10

You're not getting 13 weeks smp after the 39 weeks....that's not how it works. You are only entitled to SMP for 39 weeks
The company could be playing you that much but it won't technically be SMP.

An 18month mat leave package is incredible....they must really want her.

You're right it's just that the last 13 weeks are paid at the rate of statutory maternity pay.

OP posts:
Motheranddaughter · 04/07/2024 15:11

Back in the day I asked for and got an enhanced package as they were very keen to get me
I don’t think there is anything particularly wrong in that
Why don’t you ask for an enhanced package

Redflagsabounded · 04/07/2024 15:11

Yes, people can negotiate better packages than the usual offering. I once got a week more holiday than everyone else in a new role, but had to keep schtum about it.

How do you know what her package is? Be mindful of confidentiality.

FTPM1980 · 04/07/2024 15:10

You're not getting 13 weeks smp after the 39 weeks....that's not how it works. You are only entitled to SMP for 39 weeks
The company could be playing you that much but it won't technically be SMP.

An 18month mat leave package is incredible....they must really want her.

YourSnugHazelTraybake · 04/07/2024 15:09

Yes they can. She's obviously negotiated it as part of her salary package and they want her enough to agree to it. You could try and lobby for them to adjust for other staff, but they don't have to.

Coffeerum · 04/07/2024 15:09

It’s no different to them being offered a higher salary though. They negotiated a better contract, probably because they came from a much higher salary and were highly desired for the role.

SD1978 · 04/07/2024 15:09

Negotiate. She obviously did, and got an attractive deal. If you don't think it's fair, then do the same, but be prepared to either A) back down B) look elsewhere if you do.