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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

PT/lower paid staff receive full wage when on mat. leave in my gaff - FT/higher paid don't!

78 replies

TheDetective · 02/10/2011 18:19

Just a muse I had today while chatting to colleagues in work. My work pay maternity leave as following: 90% of full wage for 8 weeks, followed by 18 weeks 50% pay plus SMP. After this its 3 months SMP only.

We realised that those who are working FT or for a higher salary are getting a bit of a bum deal. Those who earn say £2000 a month, drop to appox £1500, and those who earn £1000 will stay bringing home £1000.

I'm a little screwed, as the main wage earner in my household - and as a result can actually only afford to take 8 weeks maternity leave in reality, plus some annual leave.

I know lots of employers only pay SMP, and some aren't entitled to pay at all, but I wonder how the above scenario is justified?

Any opinions?

OP posts:

bigkidsdidit · 02/10/2011 18:54

No I mean I understand. but it's the SMP that makes it seem unfair. OP, what do you want the government to do, pay less SMP to lower earners??

SardineQueen · 02/10/2011 18:54

The policy is fair.

You are still taking home shitloads more than people earning less than you.

You seem to begrudge people who are lower paid than you the fact that this demonstrably fair calculation works out in their favour. Why not be pleased for them?

activate · 02/10/2011 18:55

I earned more than DP before and during first two kids - after third child I stopped working for a while due to other reasons and after fourth child I went back to work in a different field and earn substantially less

life has a way of workiing out - try some financial planning

kat2504 · 02/10/2011 18:55

What your husband earns is of no concern to your employer. If it was they could say to some women "your husband is minted so you don't need maternity pay from us". You need to budget for your maternity leave and save. As far as I know you don't need to repay your student loan when you are on maternity leave although I am not 100% sure on this.

Northernlurker · 02/10/2011 18:56

So Op this isn't a 'help me query' query at all but rather a moan about lower waged employees? Nice.

SardineQueen · 02/10/2011 18:56

I managed to get my bonus included in both my mat pays, as the period the mat leave was calculated happily happened to include the bonus pay month.

Kerching

Everyone was happy for me. No-one said "snoffair" and sulked like a kid.

mousesma · 02/10/2011 18:58

TheDetective maybe you need to wait until your finances are in a better position before you have children?
If you can't afford to £500 a month then how will you cope with childcare fees etc. Life gets even more expensive for most people after the maternity leave ends.

I was in the same position as you and earned twice as much as DH so saved hard for 2 years and made sacrifices in our lifestyle to be able to afford to take a full years maternity leave. I'm sure I'm not unusual in doing this.

KatieMiddleton · 02/10/2011 18:59

oneofthosedays it's only just started for babies born on or after 3rd April this year. I've just written a 2300 word guide on the subject so any questions ask away!

It was a good suggestion. 20 weeks is not long really. Particularly if OP can take 4 weeks annual leave from weeks 16-20. It would take a bit of juggling but possible.

noblegiraffe · 02/10/2011 18:59

Would you prefer that it was made completely fair and everyone got only £1000 a month? Like Child Benefit?

said · 02/10/2011 18:59

Why don't you take a lower paid job then and then have a baby as it seems this would make you feel better off. No, didn't think you would.

mousesma · 02/10/2011 18:59

sorry just realised I might not have read thread properly and if your already pregnant then the above is very very unhelpful.

Northernlurker · 02/10/2011 19:00

Sardine - I had a similar situation with my first maternity leave. We had performance related pay during my qualifying weeks. By the time I went on mat leave this had been removed (BOO!) but my maternity pay was still based on it. That was just SMP though which then was 6 weeks at 90% and then 12 weeks at about £100 a week. No full pay at all, no 50%, no 39 weeks paid leave.

SardineQueen · 02/10/2011 19:02

NL = Yes ours was all stat min as well.

So the inclusion of the bonus in that first 6 weeks 90% bit was a welcome windfall!

oneofthosedays · 02/10/2011 19:03

OP you've still not answered the question as to why you can't save to have more time off like countless others have to do to account for the drop in wage?!! I was due to return after the 39 weeks but really wanted the full year - due to those last 13 weeks being unpaid we had to use our savings to account for the missing wage and we were happy to do this to get the extra time with DS. With DD however I was only entitled to MA and we had to suck it up, make cutbacks and live with the deficiency both during the mat leave and whilst I looked for a job (went back to work when she was 21months old). Luckily by the time DS came along I had a good job with a better mat leave package.

bigkidsdidit · 02/10/2011 19:03

I juggled annual leave, my work let you carry over all your days, rather than the usual 5, if it is maternity. And take all this year's in advance. So I had 18 weeks full pay and 60 days annual leave. It was great - this is why I think we have tons of senior women, we all want to stay and we all return o work!

SardineQueen · 02/10/2011 19:04

Honestly you are getting piles of cash - your mat package is really generous - stop begrudging people who are on lower salaries. You are all lucky at your company.

KatieMiddleton · 02/10/2011 19:05

Op could also work 10 days keeping in touch so that covers weeks 14-16 meaning she'd only need to save up one month's pay (ie 50% of 8 weeks) which wouldn't take very long.

oneofthosedays · 02/10/2011 19:10

KM thanks for the offer, my baby making days are behind me (barring any accidents ) but I'm really pleased for the people who can take advantage of this and for whom it will benefit (sounds like op is in an ideal position to take advantage of these new leave arrangements).

OP you can turn this around so it benefits you and DH/DP by juggling your mat leave and your DH's pat leave - I would definately look into it.

WilsonFrickett · 02/10/2011 19:10

Sardine that happened to me too, although in my case it was accidental. My friend from HR said it was incredibly common for women to plan round this date though though and there was a very clear 'bonus babies' spike 3ish months after annual bonus month. at how organised some people can be

OP my work policy was previously 90% for 6 weeks then SMP. The policy was robustly defended by the company. Then the first ever female board member (who would have been on serious money) had a baby... The policy was changed 6 months later.

I know it's a PITA, but it's just the way the cookie crumbles unfortunately. Can't you transfer some mat leave onto your DP? (has that policy come into effect yet?)

GwendolineMaryLacey · 02/10/2011 19:15

I don't understand what you're talking about. The bit you're querying is the SMP which is the same for everyone from the Queen down. Do you think higher earners should get more child benefit as well?

missorinoco · 02/10/2011 19:15

I think it's fair, it's proportional. I've had both.

JeelyPiece · 02/10/2011 19:19

You will still get paid more than a part timer on mat leave does when you are on mat leave, can't you see the part timer could claim that wasn't fair?

You're complaining about your partner not earning more really, not your company policy!

SardineQueen · 02/10/2011 19:43

wilson I didn't plan it! TBH anyone who plans that carefully and has fertility levels that allow it has probably done enough to deserve it!

I was after christmas babies if anything so they would be oldest in the year at school. I got july ones

NinkyNonker · 02/10/2011 20:13

I understand your frustration OP, but really what you are frustrated at is your personal circumstances, not the set up. It is right and proper that SMP is the same for all, we all have the same value. Your problem is your husband's low income, that isn't the fault of the government or your employer, your package is better than most.

WilsonFrickett · 02/10/2011 22:56

Sardine I got a July one too - about three years after I expected him! So much for planning!

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