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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:
Tiggles · 31/08/2016 21:36

My uni do 13weeks full pay, 26 weeks 1/2 pay and you have to return for 3months afterwards. I always thought that was quite generous til I saw all you other uni bods on 26weeks full pay!

ExtraMushroomsPlease · 31/08/2016 21:50

Can I ask what you do please OP if it's not too outing? I'm due to start the same masters next month and just wondering where it's taken you out of nosiness!

TattyDevine · 31/08/2016 21:56

Legal assistant, 9 months full pay, 3 months statutory, banked a bonus, gave my notice 2 days later, didn't have to pay back a penny. Magic circle law firm (city top 5)

Ellieboolou27 · 31/08/2016 21:57

Civil service get 6 months full pay then 3 months half pay

worriedmum100 · 31/08/2016 22:02

Lawyer in an NDPB. 6 months full then 3 months statutory then 3 months of zilch. Had to have been employed there for 12 months to get this though.

I'd stay where you are. You earn quite a bit more than I do. 47k is a pretty good salary.

Original poster
Aliveinwanderland · 31/08/2016 22:08

Extramushroomsplease- I just teach maths at the minute.

I am a qualified senco and did my masters to support this but found the stress levels in my old post too much to manage and that wasn't helping me to conceive or stay pregnant (had 2 mc) and so I quit and went back to just classroom teaching for now. I am very fortunate to find a school that would salary match my old slt post and so I appreciate I am well paid for a classroom teacher.

OP posts:
TheBeanpole · 31/08/2016 22:20

6 months full pay (then 3 months stat); I work for a quango. The same is on offer for partners (in the first 26 weeks) who want to use shared parental leave.I have to return for 6 months afterwards.

Previously I worked for large charities which were almost the same, give or take.

hownottofuckup · 31/08/2016 22:26

I completely agree with Sandy you'd be mad to change careers based on MP (when yours is actually very good) especially if you are planning on more DC. You'll reap back any amount and a hell of a lot more when it comes to covering childcare for the school hols.

Caper86 · 31/08/2016 22:28

Blue chip private multi billion £ international company - basic statutory maternity pay. Angry

SandyY2K · 31/08/2016 22:30

NHS - 6 months full pay 6 months half pay

^^^ This sounds like sick pay entitlement.

I know friends in the NHS and I've done TUPE transfers from the NHS into public sector and have never seen this maternity pay.

The NHS is also the largest employer in the UK and they couldn't afford to do this across the board. Unless this applies to a select few staff. Sometimes staff on certain pay grades have better terms and conditions, but I feel offering a higher package to some would lead to ET cases.

anyname123 · 31/08/2016 22:55

^I'm baffled too, surely Agenda for Change ironed all of these anomalies out of the system, we are on standard contracts.....aren't we?!?!

PinkyOfPie · 31/08/2016 23:15

Ah crap maybe I got them mixed up? Not good seeing as I am actually pregnant Confused

Looking at NHS employers - 8 weeks full pay, 18 weeks half pay, 26 weeks SMP.

Still very good considering I only got SMP in my last job!

MintChocAddict · 31/08/2016 23:25

Got 6 months full pay, 3 months enhanced and the rest of the year SMP before fully paid accrued holidays kicked in. Really good maternity package, however as perks go we get arse all else.

Public sector quango.

April241 · 01/09/2016 00:38

Yep that's looks like sick pay for NHS.

Youu can split yours equally over the term that you're off though. My friend is taking 9 months and has split her equally over that, I'm taking 12 months and have had mine split over the 12 months rather than opting for the standard 8 weeks full/18 weeks half then SMP.

justlots · 01/09/2016 00:59

I'm a teacher and get 6 months full pay. Different local authorities offer different maternity packages so maybe you just need to find an authority that offers 6 months full pay and stay in teaching?

Original poster
Aliveinwanderland · 01/09/2016 03:07

Just to clarify- I am not changing jobs based on maternity pay!

I have considered a career change for a while and so maternity pay is one of the things I would consider when looking at options.

It is not my main drive for a career change.

All those who say I will save on childcare in the holidays- completely true and this is something else I will have to consider. However during term time I will work up to 60/70 hours a week requiring lots of childcare and a lack of time to spend with my children. Swings and roundabouts.

OP posts:
Dolly80 · 01/09/2016 03:34

I would echo that different local authorities offer different packages .

With my first baby I was paid 90% for 6 weeks then 50% plus SMP for 30 weeks followed by SMP only.

With my second, I was paid 90% for 6 weeks, then 50% plus SMP for 12 weeks followed by SMP only. I couldn't believe I'd have 18 weeks less half pay second time around (although I've also worked for a private company before where I would have got SMP only so am mindful there are worse maternity packages out there)

But...there was a 4 year gap between my pregnancies, I earn more now - because of moving jobs - and work a 20 minute drive from home as opposed to a 60-90 minute commute. As others have said its not just maternity pay to consider.

yolorolo · 01/09/2016 04:28

Royal Mail, 6 months full pay, 3 months smp, 3 months no pay. Flexible with return and option for career break.

londonrach · 01/09/2016 05:52

Seriously im nhs got 6 weeks enhanced then smp!!!!

OhtoblazeswithElvira · 01/09/2016 08:38

I thought accruing annual leave and bank holidays while on maternity leave was standard UK law - not a favour your employer is doing you. Maybe I am Confused

HeCantBeSerious · 01/09/2016 09:29

It is Elvira. How you take your accrued leave isn't though.

SkyLucy · 01/09/2016 09:38

Oh my goodness I'm so jealous of you other university employees!

I work in marketing for a big London uni and have exactly the same package as aliveinwonderland (2 weeks' full pay; 4 weeks' 90%; 12 weeks' half pay; nada). So it's completely pants, and I'm well jel of those in education who get school hols too!

Love my job though, and my boss is very supportive. Pros and cons?!

ClaraLane · 01/09/2016 09:44

It's also worth mentioning that you have to return to work in the NHS for a minimum of 3 months following maternity leave on no less than one shift per week or one third of your previous working hours otherwise you will have to pay back all of your occupational maternity pay.

ExtraMushroomsPlease · 01/09/2016 09:52

Thank you Alive, sorry to hear about your mc Flowers

Rollonbedtime7pm · 01/09/2016 10:19

I am currently on my 3rd maternity leave from my job doing admin for a professional membership body - for my first 2 I got 6 months full pay and for this one the policy had changed but still giving 4 months full pay.

For my 2nd mat leave, the also paid into my childcare vouchers for me while I was on the statutory pay part of my leave. So built up nearly 3k of vouchers to use once I went back to work.

I've been really lucky to be there while I had children, they're very good with flexible working requests too so I only work 3 days a week now.

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