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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is this Mat Pay a 'good deal'?

59 replies

renlovesyou · 28/03/2011 22:59

Is 13 weeks full pay, followed by 26 weeks SMP, followed by 13 of nothing a good deal?

Im thinking thats average but snooty woman at work who hates children (has made it known) and has made my pregnant life hell thinks thats a great deal.

Is it?!

OP posts:
suzikettles · 28/03/2011 23:01

Yes, it's a good deal. Most people just get statutory.

But the reason your employer gives you that good deal is probably because they want to keep staff and get them to come back to work after mat leave. It's unlikely to be out of the goodness of their heart.

It makes sense to treat your employees well if you can.

DancingThroughLife · 28/03/2011 23:02

13 weeks full pay??? Sounds like a bloody good deal to me! You do realise that the statutory requirement is only 6 weeks on 90% don't you?

DancingThroughLife · 28/03/2011 23:03

Followed by 26 week of SMP obviously.

jezebelle · 28/03/2011 23:03

yes its very good, i'll get 6 weeks full, 12 half with statutory, then the rest just statutory up until 9 months.

ilovecrisps · 28/03/2011 23:05

of course it is
can't you just look it up like everyone else Hmm

Original poster
renlovesyou · 28/03/2011 23:05

She was awful to me when I was pregnant. I feel like not going back actually.

I felt she was trying to make me feel like I should be grateful I was getting any money at all, so couldnt really get a perspective on whether it really was a good deal IYSWIM

OP posts:
Original poster
renlovesyou · 28/03/2011 23:06

Of course I can look up the statatory pay. I cant look up what each and every company offers, can I.

OP posts:
DancingThroughLife · 28/03/2011 23:08

If I got anything more than the statutory I would be feeling grateful tbh.

Saying that, because of SMP I was able to stay off work for 7 months instead of two weeks, so in a way I'm grateful for even the bare minimum.

Most new mums I know don't feel like going back. It really is a good deal.

AuntiePickleBottom · 28/03/2011 23:09

that is a 'good deal' but compare to some i got it seems not iygwim

8 weeks at full pay
18 weeks at half pay + basic Statutory Maternity Pay on the understanding that the received payment will be adjusted to not exceed full pay.
13 weeks + Basic SMP if due
13 weeks unpaid leave

shmoz · 28/03/2011 23:10

Statutory is 6 weeks @ 90% ave sal followed by 33 weeks @ smp, so yes it sounds like a good deal.

Smug smile at snooty-childcatcher-work-woman at every opportunity might be in order Smile

Original poster
renlovesyou · 28/03/2011 23:10

Thanks Dancing. I honestly didnt know if it was - not having anything to compare it to obviously. Perhaps her tone made me think it wasnt (I dont know why she even discussed my mat leave with me actually, she wasnt my boss)

OP posts:
BeatRoute · 28/03/2011 23:11

Yes it's a good deal as it's more than statutory (which I got). The woman sounds like a piece of work and you'd do well to try and not let her wind you up.

suzikettles · 28/03/2011 23:12

Och just ignore her. Some people are convinced that maternity leave is one big long holiday and it makes them seethe with resentment (unfortunately it isn't).

Also I have met the odd older woman who gets very sniffy about modern maternity conditions having not had the benefit of them when she had her own children. Again, ignore.

Of course, re: not feeling like going back ,the downside to additional maternity pay is that generally you have to pay it back if you don't return to work for a certain length of time.

Original poster
renlovesyou · 28/03/2011 23:14

Im considering paying it back, Ive done my damnedest not to spend it. Fingers crossed she has left by december (although I cant imagine she will have, she'll probably have flirted and giggled her way to the top!)

OP posts:
ilovecrisps · 28/03/2011 23:15

quite more than stat = good deal

FWIW there was a long thread on here asking what everyone got look it up Wink

KD0706 · 28/03/2011 23:15

I got 6 weeks at 90% then 13 weeks on 40% of my salary plus smp. Then basic smp up to 9 months pp.

I know people who got a year on full pay!

Evetything's relative I guess. I think in this climate anything more than statutory is quite good.

LargeGlassOfRedPlease · 28/03/2011 23:20

13 weeks full is a GREAT deal.

I teach and only got 1st month full.

Can;t remember after that but we were seriously skint Grin

DancingThroughLife · 28/03/2011 23:25

Squite alright Smile

Suzi has hit the nail on the head - ignore. My boss only gives SMP because she didn't get great maternity rights (the age of empowerment eh?)

And I had the added bonus of a summer baby, so got to spend "All Summer Lounging Around Outside In The Sun While We're All Stuck In The Office" (more commonly known as: sitting in my flat with a newborn for the three weeks of actual sun while I sorted bf, followed by 6 months of grey, and you know, looking after a very small person)

No pleasing some people. Spend some of your ML perfecting the noncommital 'hmm, yes' Smile

JarethTheGoblinKing · 28/03/2011 23:27

It is very good. I know people who get 6 months full pay, then 3 months stat, which is about as good as it gets tbh. :)

bear in mind that if you don't go back after Mat Leave they will probably ask you to pay back the difference between the bonus pay and the statutory.

CarysFach · 28/03/2011 23:39

LargeGlassOfRedPlease, you bring back memories of my last maternity leave. How broke were we?

Ladies at DH's workplace get 6 months full pay. I now wish that I was a Civil Servant like him!

Here's your wine Wine Wink

Icelollycraving · 29/03/2011 08:22

Well I'm getting statuatory so would be v pleased with that.

Lainey1981 · 29/03/2011 09:05

It's mot bad, but really makes me realise what a fantastic deal i got. 39 weeks on full pay!
Of course i have now been made redundant Hmm so doubt any future leave will be even half as good

BootyMum · 29/03/2011 09:07

Only statuatory for me too - 6 weeks at 90% and then 33 weeks at around £120 pw. I am so Envy Enjoy!

Broadwalkempire · 29/03/2011 09:08

yes it is, don't look a gift horse in the mouth - I was SMP all the way

HappyAsIAm · 29/03/2011 09:32

Its a really good deal - not as good as in the public sector (which I think is 6 months at full pay, then 3 months at SMP), but very few private sector employers offer this. I got what everyone said was a fantastic deal in the private sector, and that was 18 weeks full pay, 21 weeks SMP.

But the fact that it is a good deal doesn't mean that you don't deserve it.