To move jobs solely because of maternity pay?

[Wombat100]

I like my job and I’m happy there but the company I work for offer zero maternity benefits - I would just get statutory pay. I’m thinking of moving jobs imminently purely so that I can go to a company which offers a good maternity package.

I feel like that’s reasonable but also I feel a bit cheeky moving somewhere if I know I’m planning (hoping) to go on mat leave in the next couple of years. I kind of feel bad for the new place, because they’ll take me on and then quite quickly potentially lose me for up to a year?

Otherwise - how do people afford to take maternity leave?

(If it’s relevant, I work in an industry where it’s not that easy to find short term maternity cover)

How are you going to know the new employer's maternity leave policies in advance?

I think it's sensible if you'd struggle to afford a mat leave at your current place. If you are returning after your mat leave, don't feel guilty about taking it. It's a legal entitlement. Companies survive.

Not unreasonable! I did exactly the same thing. I'm senior and my previous company only gave 12 weeks full pay. When me and now DH knew we were close ti getting engaged I moved to a company offering 12 months paid. We got engaged my first year, married my 2nd year and now in my 3rd year I'm on maternity leave with DD. Best decision I ever made.

I love my new place of work and will return FT after my mat leave.

I already know people who work there so luckily I’ve got a bit of an inside track 😅 (sorry; I should’ve mentioned that I’m thinking of going to a particular company)

I think I'm probably overthinking the whole thing but I feel like I’d be taking advantage of the new place 🙈

Thanks - it’s a big company too so I suppose that’s something to feel less guilty about 😅

12 months; that’s great! Thanks, it’s strangely reassuring to know it’s not just me! I just think we’d really struggle financially otherwise, although it’s a shame as I quite like my current place.

Absolutely do it, a company that values women and provides attractive benefits is one to work for imo.

Companies will have done the math to figure out if they can afford to offer a mat leave top up, before offering it. In my company, we specifically recently increased mat leave benefits in the hopes of retaining and attracting more qualified people. It’s a perk of the job. No one should feel guilty for joining us to take advantage of it, as long as they can actually do the work well too, when they aren’t on leave!

It is worth checking your entitlement because I had 3 babies fairly close and first 2 I took maternity leave although I was part time by second and when pregnant again, I resigned so they could replace me as I knew I only wanted a day a week after maternity leave until kids were all at school. The maternity pay I got from the state was based on an average of my earnings over previous year( I think) and I worked out it was as much as work would have paid me. I cannot remember properly sorry but remember being surprised. Someone else might know what I am talking about!!

I don't think it's a big deal. A year isn't that long if you're going to be there a few years anyway.

Exactly.

Just one thing to check before you do it is ( because a company I worked for had this ) is there a minimum time you have to have worked there to get their maximum maternity package. Sorry probably grandmothers and eggs but worth checking if you haven't.

I wish I had done that! Im only get the standard maternity pay, nothing else from the company, someone else I know is getting 6 months full pay!! Pissed me right off!! 😄 😖

Sounds sensible! Just check if you have to work there a certain amount of time to quality for the enhanced pay.

It's not taking advantage. Companies offer enhanced maternity packages to attract good staff. It's literally the point!

It's all part of the package to attract you, otherwise why would any company offer more than the minimum?

I’ve had potential applicants phone up and ask for a copy of our maternity policy. I send it out, as the reality is women get pregnant and employers need to be prepared for this. You are not being cheeky.

I wouldn't do this as that's just asking to be discriminated against

If you took a job because a company offered an additional week of holiday, would you feel guilty taking it?

At my compnay we have actively marketed roles mentioning the maternity policy knowing that people will join and then use it, as a way of attracting and retaining talent.

Women have babies - so unless you want to work in a business which doesn't value women before, during and after this reasonably common process - just see it as normal behaviour.

Do you feel like it is stealing? Should you have to work there for 5 years to qualify?

Which company would have a nicer culture of support when you return after some time out? The one with other supported mothers or the one that does the bare minimum

People move jobs all the time to increase their income. Same thing.

Of course you can - they do it to attract and retain staff. It's no different to moving for a higher salary.

A few years ago my current employer realised that young women were leaving to go to competitors then going off on maternity leave after they only offered statutory pay and that it was costing a fortune in recruitment fees to replace them, probably more than it would cost to pay enhanced pay. A group of women (including me) were asked to research what policies and come up with a new policy proposal, which we did (12weeks 100%, 14weeks 50% followed by 13weeksSMP) which was agreed with no pushback. I’m now due to go on Mat leave and the managing director commented that he was pleased I that I was still here and benefitting from the policy that I’d helped implemented, as it proved it was working!

If you do leave your current employer for this reason, then I would tell them exactly why it is you are leaving making it clear that you do enjoy working there - you never know, it might spark change, which may not benefit you, but may benefit the women who do stay.

My employer has recently increased maternity benefits - interestingly way beyond anything described here including a return to work bonus. They are deliberately making it widely to recruitment women. Part of a huge change in package to recruit and retain staff.
We had a new CEO and they were determined to change our culture.

@Katff you had the opportunity to design a policy and 39 weeks pay split 12weeks 100%, 14weeks 50% followed by 13weeksSMP was the best you could come to with?

In 2022 (IMO) companies especially big ones should offer a year full pay or at least 6 months full pay. This isn't the 50s. A lot of women at breadwinners with mortgages to pay. Add to that as the childbearing increases it's clear women are paying vast amounts into the economy pot. Why isn't this factored in. Finally most couples have outgoings to match their full salaries - losing that salary at the time you need it most is ridiculous.

Before the oppression Olympics posters come on here to challenge me saying...

"I saved for 10 years to fund Mat leave"/ "we bought a smaller house to fund Mat leave"/ "I sacrificed having the big family o wanted to afford Mat leave" etc

I want to tell you that shouldn't be the norm and if a company respected your worth to the organisation they'd pay you what you are worth AND have a benefits package inclusive of maternity/paternity/adoption that didn't leave you on the breadline for 13-26 weeks at the most vulnerable time in your life.

I do not work for a big company and at the time we did our new policy was introduced - it was competitive in our industry and was a hell of a lot better than SMP. Since then some of the really big companies may have started offering 100% for 6months - and it something I may raise with the MD next year, as he has told me he wants to get my feedback on the whole policy including the process of return to work when I am back.

However, we are paid above average salaries for our industry (by approx 10-15%), and that was also taken into consideration when the policy was created. I’d rather the higher pay all the time, than for a few months whilst on Mat leave.