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

[TheDetective]

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 You need to count yourself bloody lucky that you get a period with 50% pay + SMP, and stop whining about what happens to other people's wages when it doesn't really concern you. If you want that scenario for yourself then drop your hours so you only earn a grand.

The scenario is justified because of the maths - as many posters have pointed out. The part time earners are still only living off a grand a month and the higher wage earners still get more.

If you can't have time off because you can't afford it then it's tough shit, there are plenty of us out there that went straight back to work due to being the sole wage earner or not being able to afford the drop.

OP, I am the main breadwinner in our family, and in my old organisation, we received no more than the statutory minimum. Yes, it was tough but we planned for it and it was ok. I had six months off.

My current employer offers 90% for 18 weeks, and my salary is much better anyway, so if I had a baby now, we'd be much more comfortable. But if that wasn't the case, we'd manage by planning around it.

Your package is very generous, and it is fair to all employees. If you think you will struggle on the reduced income, start planning and saving now.

I'm confused.

At the moment, everybody gets the same. The same percentage of their wages for the same period of time + SMP

You want to change that so that people who earn more - get a higher percentage of their salary paid to them while they are on maternity leave than those who earn less/work fewer hours?

Because you think that that would be fairer?

I'm guessing those on p/t / low wages would disagree with you.