Employer being secretive about maternity package

[HouseAHunting]

I started a new job at the start of this year, it is all going well so far. Husband and l are thinking of maybe TTC next year. So l thought l would check what the maternity pay and leave is. All l can find out is that it is statutory pay if you have been there 6 month or more, then the policy says "employees should contact the Human Resources department who will be able to confirm what enhanced package they are entitled to". Are they allowed to do this? It seems quite odd and secretive. Everywhere else l have ever worked then it is in the policy?! Do l need to e-mail HR then? But l don't really want it broadcast we are thinking of TTC...

Is not usual to have different packages. Some people may be on older contracts, different levels etc.

In my last job my level automatically got 6 months full pay. The level below didn't. People joining on new contract got smp.

Its easier to say "contact HR' because to many people read things and seemingly never read it all where it will tell you it doesn't apply to you

Interesting it's the opposite for me, I have only ever been able too see the benefits relevant to my level and below but only the generic benefits not what I have negotiated in my contract specifically

Well, the universe must have been listening as an e-mail was sent out to everyone this afternoon saying they have have over-hauled and updated their maternity policy. I very nearly sent an e-mail to HR but no need now.

My question now is what does "1 years’ service plus at qualifying date" mean? Is that 1 years service when you give birth or 1 years service at 16 weeks before due to give birth? They mentioned it in the e-mail, sorry if it is obvious but l can't get my head round it!

be on your payroll in the ‘qualifying week’ - the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth

I bet your hr manager is a mumsnetter who spent lunchtime reading aibu

@Dishwashersaurous maybe they are on here!

So it would be 67 weeks service total required to get the enhanced maternity deal then (52 weeks in a year + 15 weeks)? I know l am being dim but l just cannot get my head round it!

No it's a year service when you are 25 weeks approx pregnant. - so 15 weeks before due date.

But to ensure that you aren't messed around by the dates and a weirdly early predicted due date or something better to wait until you have been there for nine months until you get pregnant

No you just have to be there a year before week 15 not 52 + 15 as I understand it

@Coop80 do you mean l would have had to have done 9 months service, by the time l am 15 weeks before due to give birth? Sorry for the questions, l am sure l am being really annoying!

Have a look on Glassdoor and see if anyone has uploaded details of the policy there.

@babouchette good idea, they are not too small so they might be on there...

@Dishwashersaurous so 52 weeks - 25 = 27 weeks service?

No I think they mean work there a full year before you are 15 weeks away.

X post but yeah that's how I read it