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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder what job people do if they get good maternity pay?

224 replies

Aliveinwanderland · 31/08/2016 17:09

I have heard time and time again about women getting 6 months full pay, even a year full pay, for maternity leave!

What job do these women do??? Seriously I am tempted by a career change!

OP posts:
kimlo · 31/08/2016 17:10

6 months enhanced, Im a nursery nurse in a day nursery.

Original poster
Aliveinwanderland · 31/08/2016 17:12

Excellent Kimlo, that's one to add to the list of options!

I get enhanced maternity pay, but it is nothing like 6 months full pay!

OP posts:
topcat2014 · 31/08/2016 17:12

Blue chip private sector (eg Unilever etc) I would have thought.

Unlikely to be small owner managed business.

Public sector used to be good on maternity, perhaps not as much now.

campervan07 · 31/08/2016 17:13

It's not the specific job but the employer. Public sector is often good. Private sector varies massively by company. I know someone who would get nine months at full pay whereas my company doesn't offer any enhanced pay at all

HeCantBeSerious · 31/08/2016 17:13

I was in the civil service and got 6 months full pay.

megletthesecond · 31/08/2016 17:14

Mine was local government. Just low paid admin work.

campervan07 · 31/08/2016 17:14

Sorry should have said that we both work for large listed companies

soundsystem · 31/08/2016 17:14

Public sector definitely from people I know. But they tend to get paid less, so maybe it comes out in the wash?

Original poster
Aliveinwanderland · 31/08/2016 17:14

I have never understood what civil service actually is... Can anyone enlighten me?

I'm classed as public sector I guess (teacher) but sadly no 6 months full pay! I wonder which public service jobs do get this?

OP posts:
Buttfucknowhere · 31/08/2016 17:14

Charities have good maternity packages usually, although that is slowly changing now.

Some public sector bodies. Very few privately owned companies - at least that's my experience.

If you're thinking of having a family, try and get yourself working at a family friendly company. Not just for maternity packages, but for the whole attitude to flexible working and your career trajectory when you return to work.

A friend of mine took a significant pay cut to work for a charity with a great maternity package and she hasn't regretted it. The reduction in stress and a supportive environment has been invaluable.

DaisyFranceLynch · 31/08/2016 17:15

Financial services - six months full pay.

MGFM · 31/08/2016 17:15

Military - 6 months full pay

soundsystem · 31/08/2016 17:15

(I would LOVE I get enhanced maternity pay of any kind, though. This time around I'm just going to be on mat. allowance as I'm changing jobs at 6 months pregnant)

age81 · 31/08/2016 17:16

I worked for one of the top bank many moons ago and it was 6 months full pay and 6 months half pay (I think)

Original poster
Aliveinwanderland · 31/08/2016 17:16

Baby #1 is due in 8 weeks so for this one I have to cope with my maternity package (which I know is enhanced so still better than some get so I'm not moaning too loudly). But I have been considering a career change for a while and plan one having possibly another 2 children so maternity packages will be an important factor in the decision.

OP posts:
weebarra · 31/08/2016 17:17

6 months full pay. I work for a quango, so public sector.

Original poster
Aliveinwanderland · 31/08/2016 17:17

Age81- that's what I get as sick leave.

You think I could hide the watermelon in my jumper and play sick for a year???

OP posts:
positivity123 · 31/08/2016 17:18

Accenture, Google and Facebook all get a great package

IwannaSnorlax · 31/08/2016 17:18

Large PLC which is engineering based. HR openly admit (quietly) that because it's a male dominated organisation, they can afford to have generous maternity packages (6 months full pay & 6 months half pay).

I've heard BMW give 12 months full pay - again due to much lower numbers of females to males.

scarednoob · 31/08/2016 17:18

Law firm - 9 months' full pay but repayable if you leave within 12 months of coming back

LondonStill83 · 31/08/2016 17:20

I work for a charity.

I get 18 weeks full pay, 12 weeks half pay, and 9 weeks SMP (plus 10 agree KIT days)...

Stevefromstevenage · 31/08/2016 17:21

because it's a male dominated organisation, they can afford to have generous maternity packages 6 months full pay

Yep I am an engineer and had a similar circumstance only no added in half pay.

HeCantBeSerious · 31/08/2016 17:21

Civil service = government departments and quangos.

April241 · 31/08/2016 17:22

I don't get full pay but I'm taking 12 months and splitting my maternity pay equally over the year then using up some annual leave to either add on a few weeks at the end or to reduce my working days for a while - NHS.

hatgirl · 31/08/2016 17:22

I work for the public sector. We get nothing like 6 months full pay in my LA.

Standard these days seems to be 90% pay for 6 weeks, then half pay plus SMP for 12 weeks and then only SMP until 6 months, then nothing.