Cost of living payment from company / mat leave

[roarfeckingroarr]

My company has just announced a COL payment for everyone earning below £xx at full time earnings.

I earn above this. It's annoying to miss out, but I get it.

However - AIBU to think they should take into account people on various types of leave that significantly affect their pay - eg carers leave, parental leave, sickness leave? The amount I will earn next year will be significantly below the cut off amount because of the company's shoddy mat pay . As this is a one off COL - and everyone who is caring for a baby or unwell is likely to have high COL in terms of energy - AIBU to think an exception should be made?

Yes - I chose to have a baby. I know. But this payment is to support colleagues who will take home below £xx amount with COL - and that includes me and others in my situation.

I also think people on mat leave should be entitled to one of the govt COL payments.

So are they basing it on your reference salary? I don’t understand what you’re saying - that you’re not getting your company discretionary COL payment during Mat Leave?

Chances are it will be earnings based on a certain date so the OP isn’t entitled to it as her earnings won’t drop til she’s on mat leave

Why don’t you reach out to HR and payroll and see what they say? I think it’s reasonable to state that you’ll have a drastic change in income and see what they can do

Presumably if you struggle due to lack of earnings on maternity leave next year, then you can go back to work after the 6 weeks @90% pay? So you don't need to have a significant drop in pay next year, you are choosing to, to pay for your lifestyle choice of taking a long maternity leave. There's no law that says you must take months and months off from work if you can't afford to. You have the choice to fix your own problems. Many mothers have had to go back to work earlier than they'd like to pay the bills!

@LyingWitchInTheWardrobe thanks for your kindness. I've noticed you on other threads and always thought you were lovely.

It's a multibillion pound company. I'm going to follow up and find out if there's any leeway.

@Testina yes, they're basing it on salary not earnings. So for example if the cut off was £50k and you earn £40k working part time, but would earn >£50k if you worked full time, you won't get it. My usual salary is over the cut off but because I'll be on maternity leave, I'll be earning substantially less than this amount over the year.

I'm going to speak with HR. Thanks for all helpful comments.

You would not receive it if working so are not entitled on ml. Statutory maternity pay takes account of your relatively high earnings in the six weeks @ 90% payments.

Some lovely helpful advice and some horrible snarky comments. Just ignore the spiteful ones and take the good advice and if you talk to hr they should help you as may not even be aware the situation that some people will be in when they are off on maternity leave. Once you talk to them and explain and tell them how it will be a struggle I hope they help you out. I got the head snapped off me in another post earlier by another user. I rarely come on here now as some are just mean and it is not nice. Good luck with pregnancy.

@BOOTS52PollyPrissyPants ❤️ thank you, good advice c

Nothing wrong with asking, but the cut off date will probably be to stop situations like this, by saying only those on x amount on this date will get it. Otherwise they'll have lots of people, I'd imagine, asking for exceptions for various reasons. Still nothing wrong with checking though, as they say, if you don't ask you don't get!
If costs are a worry, there is also the option of going back earlier if you need more money coming in? I had a colleague, years ago, who went back after 6 months for similar reasons.

It could be worse. I am a (lower) earner at my company and lost out on a £1k COL payment because I started just after the cut-off date. No exceptions made.

I remember when furlough was announced. We had a guy who started the day after the cut off so he didn’t qualify for any. There will always be losers in situations like this but I wouldn’t be surprised if OP is told she won’t get it even after asking. They’ll say she’s choosing maternity leave and can come back to work at any time if she can’t afford to stay at home (although this argument will be ignoring the cost of childcare).

I'm absolutely not going to cut short time with my baby. I have savings. My question was just about whether someone who will be earning significantly under the cut off amount - because of maternity or sickness or another reason - should qualify for something designed to alleviate the COL.

Your company, YANBU, definitely ask them.

The government aka taxpayers, YABU, no. Anyone choosing to have a baby has accepted a temporary reduced income, and should have an adequate financial buffer (and in most cases, a partner’s income as well). I’d rather more money went to the disabled and to carers.

What you say makes sense OP. Your company is wonderful!) I hope others do the same!
It would be fairer if it was based on your earnings being below the threshold, not your wages. So that apply to maternity leave, sick leave and so on. I think HR missed a trick there. They possibly did not think of it.