What is everyone's employment maternity ?

[Lovelylovely34]

Didn't realise my work was so bad !!!! I am shocked.
Would love to know what is the 'norm' not including statutory.

When I worked in private sector it was six weeks full pay then stat. Work for myself now and it would be £50 a week as the previous tax year I set up I didn't pay enough ni. So I am taking just two weeks mat this time 🙃

Full pay for 3 months, half pay plus SMP which works out around 400 less than full pay I think, then SMP for 3 months and unpaid for an additional 3 if desired.

Sorry I mean the half pay plus SMP is for months 4-6, then it goes to statutory after that.

Same, civil service.

Currently:
8 weeks’ full pay – inclusive of SMP payments
8 weeks’ half pay – inclusive of SMP payments
23 weeks – SMP only
13 weeks - unpaid leave

I’m about to change it to:
8 weeks’ full pay – inclusive of SMP payments
18 weeks’ half pay – inclusive of SMP payments
13 weeks’ – SMP only
13 weeks’ - unpaid leave

4 weeks full pay, then either 12 months 60% pay or 24 months 30% pay, up to a maximum of about 1700/month. We can get up to 3 years of parental leave but it's unpaid after those 12 or 24 months.
We also usually get signed off on full pay as soon as we inform our employer about the pregnancy until we start maternity leave.

When I had my first two children: Statutory

When I had my 3rd: 9 weeks full-pay then statutory and a 2-weeks-pay welcome back bonus

Now that I'm done having children and it isn't personally relevant to me: 18 weeks full-pay!

(Still very happy for the positive change, but not to the point I'd have another baby 🤣)

I’m a teacher, statutory minimum.

18 weeks full pay, then statutory for a bit.

More generous than some but still doesn't feel enough to be leaving baby at just over 4 months old! ☹️

6 weeks full pay
12 weeks half
Then SMP (also known as brass buttons!)

Finally changed recently from statutory only to 15 weeks full pay. Then the rest statutory. If you don't go back to work for 6 months afterwards you have to pay back the 14 weeks.

Stat.

Mine is 6 months full pay... then half pay for a period (can't remember how long) and then statutory.

I get 6 months full pay, 3 months half pay and 3 months flexi at the end.

the flexi is optional, staff can return and ‘test’ different work patterns on full pay for the last 3 months before making any statutory flexi requests.

Mine was stat only. Took a year off.

I got 6 months full pay, then a further 3 stat mat, they also promoted me just as I went off mat leave and paid me the new higher rate! When I returned I got executive coaching sessions to help me transition back.

Mine was 6 months full pay, then 6 months half pay.

5 months full pay, then SMP to 9 months, 3 months unpaid. We get 6 weeks annual leave (not including BH) which you accrue on maternity leave so most people use a chunk of annual leave at the start and end of their maternity leave as well.

I have teenagers now but we had saved up the equivalent of a house deposit to cover my loss of income on maternity leave.

20 weeks full pay, remainder statutory, and a flexible working arrangement for 8 weeks on full pay on return. Taking the full year i was also on full pay for 30 days of holiday tagged on the end.

Most professionals i knew got between 4&6 months full pay (lawyers, accountants etc).

Nine months full pay, three months at 50% plus SMP, and up to two additional years unpaid, should you so wish.

I chose to go back at not quite three months though.

Full pay for 20 weeks, then statutory maternity pay to 9 months, then 3 months unpaid.

We'd have liked to do shared parental leave but DH's employer only offered statutory even for the two weeks paternity leave so we couldn't afford it.

Public sector - 6 weeks 90%, 18 weeks 50% pay plus SMP, 11 weeks SMP only.

18 weeks full pay, then statutory for a bit.More generous than some but still doesn't feel enough to be leaving baby at just over 4 months old! ☹️

I didnt know anyone who did return to work just because they were only on statutory. If you can afford childcare, unless you earn loads, you can usually afford to be on statutory with no childcare to pay. Most people i know saved some money beforehand to cover things.

Remember you also get child benefit unless a very high earner.

I think the more shocking aspect is paternity pay. Three of our competitors have just announced equal maternity and paternity (6m for everyone) - I work in a male dominated industry so it’s very impressive and forward thinking of those companies. Our company had a regroup and offered 6m for women and 8w for men. Offering the same to both parents is the only way we can get equality in terms of pay and sharing the childcare/housework/mental load burden. Otherwise child rearing is always going to be seen as a ‘woman’s job’. For those who want to be the primary carer, that’s great, but we shouldn’t have to be pushed down that route financially, it should be a choice and equal paid leave is the only way to do it.

Mine was 6 months full pay and then stat until 39 weeks. Local government. They didn't have a maternity policy until I got pregnant though so I wrote one she they agreed, was very lucky! Previous job was 9 weeks full pay, then 50% then stat which I thought was okay but isn't that great really. my friend got a full year full pay.