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Original poster

Enhanced Maternity Pay - What does your company offer?

31 replies

Cez91 · 18/03/2021 14:04

Hi everyone!
My first post here on mumsnet :)
OH and I have recently decided to start TTC. One big talking point for us is how we will manage financially if we do conceive and eventually have a baby.

I am the main earner in our household and am concerned I will have to go back to work after 6 weeks as we won't cope on the government statutory maternity pay (it doesn't even cover our mortgage).

I am an engineer in a manufacturing company that doesn't offer any enhanced maternity pay. In fact maternity pay isn't even mentioned in my terms and conditions. I have approached my employer and asked about my options, they are happy to have a discussion and offer some kind of enhancement but don't know where to start....

I would like to ask if there is anyone else that works in a similar industry to me and if so what are your employers offerings?

TIA :) x

OP posts:
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OhamIreally · 18/03/2021 17:17

Hi OP I was in a similar situation to you. Worked in a male dominated sector and was the first woman to get pregnant (I had been there 9 years!). The contract stated 8 weeks full pay then SMP. I was relatively senior so approached them as I considered it fell below the industry standard. They asked me to collect data from similar comparable firms which I did and the average was about 12 weeks full pay.
They eventually changed the policy to 8 weeks full pay but for each year over 5 years you had worked they would give an additional week at full pay. So I got an extra four weeks at full pay.
They did it for me really but they were a good firm to work for and had a low attrition rate so I saw it benefit several of my colleagues after me and I was really pleased about it.

AnneofScreamFables · 18/03/2021 16:30

Large finance company. 6 months full pay, then statutory. Men get the same for any portion they take as shared parental leave. All parents also get 5 days emergency nanny childcare per year.

Ki0612 · 18/03/2021 16:17

Teacher: 3 months full pay, 6 months statutory, 3 months zero.

BML123 · 18/03/2021 15:57

6 months full pay, 3 months SMP, 3 months unpaid

Big Pharma

somuchcoffeeneeded · 18/03/2021 15:54

Teacher
4 weeks full pay
2 weeks 90%
12 weeks 50% plus statutory
21 weeks statutory
13 weeks unpaid.

HermioneKipper · 18/03/2021 15:45

Civil servant. 6 months full pay. 3 months statutory pay. I realise I’m very lucky

idontlikealdi · 18/03/2021 15:42

12 months on full pay.

Ten years ago I got 6 months on 90% and 6 months on 50%

Iamanaubergine · 18/03/2021 15:40

12 weeks full pay then 5 weeks half pay plus SMP then SMP only for the rest. I work in HE.

MaverickDanger · 18/03/2021 15:36

Large listed global engineering consultancy.

13 weeks full pay, 26 weeks half pay, 3 weeks SMP.

No retention etc & flexible working and wfh offered to everyone.

theodozya · 18/03/2021 15:36

My current civil service department offers nine months full pay.

Daisy95 · 18/03/2021 15:34

NHS- 8 weeks full pay
16 weeks half pay + SMP
Then rest SMP

ChateauMargaux · 18/03/2021 15:32

Back when I had my first child, Ford were the gold standard.. 52 weeks full pay! www.hrmagazine.co.uk/content/news/top-employers-for-working-families-ford-of-britain

Inneedofanewwardrobe · 18/03/2021 15:08

I work for a university snd get five months full pay. Friends with similar work for the civil service.

Bramblecrumble · 18/03/2021 15:07

26 weeks full pay, 13 weeks snp 13weeks unpaid. Charity.

Highwind · 18/03/2021 15:07

Equal parental leave for mothers and fathers at 90% pay for 26 weeks then statutory pay for up to another 26 weeks.

Have to have a years continuous service at expected date of childbirth.

Large multinational food manufacturing company.

cirrusminor · 18/03/2021 15:02

Software - 6 months full pay, SMP thereafter. Also allows up to 3 months paid paternity leave (not shared parental leave) for fathers, which is lovely.

zzzebra · 18/03/2021 15:01

SMP, everywhere I've worked have only offered SMP.

My friend who go anything above SMP were either public, charity, or financial sector.

AllTheCakes · 18/03/2021 15:01

6 months full pay, then on to statutory. Feel very lucky about that, as we wouldn’t manage otherwise. Finance in London.

RunHobbitRun · 18/03/2021 14:57

6 months full pay then 3 months half pay. Private firm reasonably infamous for not being nice about employee contracts. Incredibly they left this alone!

HarryLimeFoxtrot · 18/03/2021 14:56

Large FTSE 100 company: 39 weeks full pay (but you have to have worked for them for 3 years to qualify for the full enhancement). We get a lot of men taking their portion of shared leave from 26 weeks onwards as they tend to get paid more than their OH would get.

CreosoteQueen · 18/03/2021 14:51

I’m a solicitor in a large international firm. We get 3 months full pay, 3 months half pay, 3 months SMP, then three months unpaid. I didn’t think it was that great until I read some stories on here about how bad it can be - now I feel quite lucky!

ChristinaYang10 · 18/03/2021 14:51

Large financial services company - 5 months full pay, then statutory.

trilbydoll · 18/03/2021 14:50

Also manufacturing / engineering and we only pay SMP. My friends who got enhanced packages work in financial services or for charities.

Namechanger0800 · 18/03/2021 14:48

Public sector
After one years service 26 weeks full pay, 13 weeks statutory, 13 weeks unpaid

PerditaNitt · 18/03/2021 14:47

Large companies I have worked for in the insurance and financial services sector offered 6 months full pay and SMP after that. My firm offer 6 months full pay to either parent, regardless of whether their partner is taking parental leave at the same time - I think this is pretty unusual. I am seeing more fathers take extended parental leave due to this policy and I think it is fantastic for many reasons.