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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask to see the mat leave policy before I apply for the job?

60 replies

ConkerGame · 09/03/2023 13:58

I’m early 30s, doing well at work but currently looking for a new role for promotion opportunities.

I’m being contacted by lots of headhunters about various roles and I always ask them a) what is the salary / salary range if it’s negotiable, as I’d only move for a decent pay-rise, and b) to see the mat/Pat/shared parental leave policy. I know I’m going to want kids in a couple of years and I’m the higher earner so I wouldn’t be willing to move somewhere with rubbish enhanced leave provisions.

Whenever I’ve asked for this, the headhunters look shocked and say there’s no way they could get access to that before offer stage. But to my mind there’s no point wasting everyone’s time with a couple of rounds of interview etc if I’ll take one look at the policy post-offer stage and say “no thanks”. Surely it’s best not to waste everyone’s time? And if they are the kind of employer that won’t employ someone in case they go on Mat leave then I don’t want to work there either!

Should say I’m aware most places you have to have worked there for a year to qualify for the enhanced policy, which is fine, and I’d be happy to work at the next place for a decent length of time if it all goes well, so I just see mat leave as a short period in a long career. I’m also only applying to big corporate companies, if that makes a difference, not small start ups or anything.

The most a headhunter has given me so far is “it’s competitive”, which means nothing in reality! So AIBU to think the headhunters should ask for the policy to share with potential candidates if they ask?

OP posts:
Original poster
ConkerGame · 09/03/2023 15:36

@Lcb123 in that case I wouldn’t apply. They clearly have something to hide.

OP posts:
Longtimeloiterer · 09/03/2023 15:38

Could you look on Glassdoor when you're doing your due diligence?

ChilliBandit · 09/03/2023 15:38

Not that you should have to, but I wonder if you bury the request by asking for all HR policies it would get you what you need.

lieselotte · 09/03/2023 15:42

I don't think it's at all unreasonable to ask, and any reputable company should have it on their recruitment website anyway.

I can't say I know what my employer's is. But I would be very surprised if they were cagey about telling someone. It's not difficult to say something like "after a year's service we offer six months on full pay and then nothing" or 12 months on half pay or whatever the policy is.

lieselotte · 09/03/2023 15:45

Interestingly my employer does not mention it on the website, even something vague like "enhanced maternity leave policy". I will tell them they need to be upfront about this!

ChilliBandit · 09/03/2023 15:50

I’ve just checked and my current firm show it publicly on the website, very pleased to see that. It’s much more generous than the company I was working at when I had DC, doh!

Scottishskifun · 09/03/2023 15:58

I don't think it's an unusual request as it's part of the package - pay, holiday allowance, maternity policy and sick pay policies. My work is also online.
Try googling the company sometimes there are docs uploaded

lieselotte · 09/03/2023 15:59

I've just found this fairly good example: www.shoosmiths.co.uk/careers/careers-legal-professionals/benefits-package

scroll down a bit to get to maternity leave bit

would be nice if they said what the qualifying period is, but not bad

Calmdown14 · 09/03/2023 16:09

Ask for the full benefits package and relevant policies so you can understand the salary in context.

Making it about understanding all benefits will be easier

Original poster
ConkerGame · 09/03/2023 16:11

@Calmdown14 that’s a really good way to frame it, thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
ConkerGame · 09/03/2023 16:13

@lieselotte that’s a really good example and they have a good policy, so my theory holds!

OP posts:
Original poster
ConkerGame · 09/03/2023 16:14

@Longtimeloiterer i have been but a lot of stuff on there seems out of date and relies on employees being honest/ bothered to complete it

OP posts:
Lakeyloo · 09/03/2023 16:25

I work in senior, specialist recruitment/ headhunting (have done for 15 + years) and it definitely isn't "the norm" to request this information prior to interview/offer (pension, bonus, health, holiday, hybrid etc etc yes but not mat policy) not sure why more people don't ask tbh. I think unfortunately some young women still feel that they may be at a disadvantage if they ask - not the case in MOST cases.*

It also isn't something we are given at the beginning of the process, it's normally tucked away in the formal offer/ contract. The recruiter absolutely can get you this though and no one in this day and age should think twice about you asking. Most of our clients are FTSE 100 etc and they certainly wouldn't.
*Unfortunately I know think there are still hiring managers out there who would still go for candidates who aren't likely to want to start a family in the nearish future, but you probably wouldn't want to work for them anyway. Keep asking, and tell the recruiter in the nicest possible way that you won't give permission for them to put you forward until you have all the info you need.

SnackSizeRaisin · 09/03/2023 16:27

I would see this as being part of the package along with salary, pension, holiday allowance, cpd allowance, sick pay etc.
If a company has an enhanced allowance they should be happy to tell you as the whole point is to make it an attractive place to work. If they just offer statutory, fair enough but it shouldn't be a secret.
I work somewhere with an 18% pension contribution but they don't put it in the adverts. I have always thought that strange.

SnackSizeRaisin · 09/03/2023 16:32

Lakeyloo · 09/03/2023 16:25

I work in senior, specialist recruitment/ headhunting (have done for 15 + years) and it definitely isn't "the norm" to request this information prior to interview/offer (pension, bonus, health, holiday, hybrid etc etc yes but not mat policy) not sure why more people don't ask tbh. I think unfortunately some young women still feel that they may be at a disadvantage if they ask - not the case in MOST cases.*

It also isn't something we are given at the beginning of the process, it's normally tucked away in the formal offer/ contract. The recruiter absolutely can get you this though and no one in this day and age should think twice about you asking. Most of our clients are FTSE 100 etc and they certainly wouldn't.
*Unfortunately I know think there are still hiring managers out there who would still go for candidates who aren't likely to want to start a family in the nearish future, but you probably wouldn't want to work for them anyway. Keep asking, and tell the recruiter in the nicest possible way that you won't give permission for them to put you forward until you have all the info you need.

The thing is that any man or woman between about 20 and 50 may nowadays go off on maternity, shared parental or adoption leave. It's no longer as simple as just not employing newly married women!

Original poster
ConkerGame · 09/03/2023 16:43

@Lakeyloo that’s really helpful to know, thank you!

OP posts:
Babooshka1990 · 09/03/2023 16:55

No you are right to ask to see Mat policy, flexible working, and ask for details of compassionate/ special leave. These things are part of life and the policies are an important part of their offer. Fortunately the company I work for now made them available publicly so I didn’t have to ask

ladykale · 09/03/2023 17:13

@Feliciacat but for most companies if you join 8 months pregnant you won't get enhanced mat leave benefits and will only get statutory pay.

Usually there's a six month period to qualify

Feliciacat · 09/03/2023 17:15

@ladykale not if you’re transferring to another nhs employer! Continuous service goes between the two posts. Also, maybe for some people, they don’t mind SMP; they just want out of their job!

Undecidedandtorn · 09/03/2023 17:49

I work in HR and wouldn't hesitate to supply this to someone. In fact we are currently compliling a benefits sheet for potential applicants and I'm going to double check tomorrow that it has details of our generous mat leave policy- thanks for the prompt!

Original poster
ConkerGame · 09/03/2023 18:13

@Undecidedandtorn hopefully I end up applying to your company! 🤞

OP posts:
Starflecked · 09/03/2023 18:17

I own a small company, we don't employ many people but I'd happily show someone our policies, we have nothing to hide. I'd always assume (perhaps wrongly) that a company hesitant to share this offered the bare minimum. I can see how they might be concerned about competitors getting a whiff of them but if so inclined they could find out by other means, also shouldn't matter if their offer is appealing.

Greenfairydust · 09/03/2023 18:35

Be smart.

Most headhunters will think that you are planning to have a kid in the next few months and that makes you a liability for their client, not an exciting potential new employee.

Harsh but true.

I would ask to be sent all the information/policies they are able to share for the organisation, rather than specifically single out maternity policy. It is less obvious...

BeautifulWar · 09/03/2023 18:41

This needs to stop being a taboo subject. It's a fact of life that singe women will want to have children and it's ridiculous to have to pretend otherwise.

BeautifulWar · 09/03/2023 18:43

Most headhunters will think that you are planning to have a kid in the next few months and that makes you a liability for their client, not an exciting potential new employee.

Alternatively, it could mean that the applicant is looking and thinking long-term?