My first AIBU.....drumroll...
I have posted briefly in Employment recently about this but it is now really bugging me and keen for some wider perspective.
So, v briefly, I have spent the last 9 months working at a local authority as a locum. I was paid through an umbrella company. For a flat fee of £24 a week they sorted out my pay from the agency and tax etc. For all intents and purposes they were my employer. Can see why they charged an admin fee as they processed my pay each week, deducted tax and NI, raised an invoice to my agency (who ultimately invoiced back the local authority). As I didn't wrk directly for them, they need to raise the money to cover their charges etc.
Fast forward 9 months, am now on maternity leave and am entitled to receive SMP from the Government as I fulfil all the criteria. I get it paid by the umbrella co each week as they are or were my employer BUT they are taking £20 a week as an "administration fee". I fail to see how it can cost them that much to process a weekly payment of exactly the same amount each week for 39 weeks. Surely it's nearer to a few pounds.....
So out of a weekly income of £135 (which is going to be a struggle anyway) I lose £20. I had not factored this into my calculations (did not realise until i got my first payslip on mat leave) and it really does make thins very difficult. I appreciate that this co has to make money but surely that's why I (and all the other "employees") pay £24 a week while they work and they should factor in that their employees may become entitled to SMP at some point. It pees me off that this is money the Government pay to women to enable them to be off work and these thieving b@stards are snaffling almost a 6th of it from me. Thankfully we are not in total total dire straits (yet) but for someone else £20 a week from £135 could mean difference of heating their home, food for the baby etc etc
I asked for a breakdown of why they say it costs them £20 a week in admin, refused other than it covers their bank charges, I asked to negotiate down the amount they deduct, refused.
Should I just suck it up and lose £20 a week or threaten to take it further (not entirely sure where to mind....)? They said to me that any payment they have to make to an employee is subject to deductions for admin, eg SSP, but surely this adversely affects women as they are ones on SMP and who lose out of money they are entitled to.
Hope this makes sense...