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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Paying back maternity pay

31 replies

Beehavewillyou · 20/06/2023 14:02

I returned from mat leave a few months ago, and am pregnant again so will be on mat leave again in a few months time.

I have had lots of problems with my manager, no support, he is never really around to help/dumps everything onto everyone else. No one is really sure what he is doing on a day to day basis.

Given the choice I would leave after my next Mat leave but I would be leaving within the time where I would be required to pay back my additional maternity pay.

Has anyone been in this situation? Did you pay it back? Did you pay it in instalments? Try to get it priced into your new job offer?

OP posts:
IVFbeenverylucky · 20/06/2023 14:05

How long do you have to stay before paying it back? Can't you just stay for that period after returning, and then go?

Nevermind31 · 20/06/2023 14:49

Just go back for that period and coast until you leave

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 20/06/2023 14:50

Nevermind31 · 20/06/2023 14:49

Just go back for that period and coast until you leave

That’s what I was thinking

wutheringkites · 20/06/2023 14:52

What does your contract say?

Original poster
Beehavewillyou · 20/06/2023 15:16

It’s 12 months, but I really don’t like it and it’s making me really quite unhappy.

contract says it’s got to be paid back, but lots of people I know were never asked for it, so just trying to understand where people have paid it, did they come to some sort of agreement e.g. payment in installments

OP posts:
wutheringkites · 20/06/2023 15:19

This is going to be very employer specific and I think 12 months is longer than average (most people I know had six months) so that suggests they take it seriously

Lcb123 · 20/06/2023 15:29

12 months seems very long, I've only ever heard of 3 months. I wouldn't rely on other people not having been asked to pay it back.

caringcarer · 20/06/2023 15:37

If it's in your contract they can enforce it, but you must know that. You could leave now if you can find another job or just wait until after next mat leave and just do the year then leave.

wutheringkites · 20/06/2023 15:39

How generous are they with mat pay? If it's a good offer then id just do the year and then move on. If it's not great then just see what jobs done up - you might get an offer that makes paying it back worthwhile

gogohmm · 20/06/2023 15:41

You could request to only receive smp if you know you definitely aren't returning

StripyMonk · 20/06/2023 15:45

They quite often take it off your last pay check which also includes payment for accrued leave etc. if it’s the kind of industry to do garden leave it might not be as noticeable.

Original poster
Beehavewillyou · 20/06/2023 18:00

Yes just feel like it puts me in a difficult position, where I don’t like the role and it makes me unhappy but can’t leave due to financially not being able to pay the money back.

OP posts:
pastabest · 20/06/2023 18:07

Just tell HR you only want SMP.

Or alternatively put the enhanced amount in a high interest account so at least it makes you some money before you pay it back.

How certain are you the people you know who didn't have to pay it back actually got it and weren't actually only on SMP anyway?

Everyone I know in this situation has had to pay it back and its been a pain the bum for them.

kernowpicklepie · 20/06/2023 18:09

My old company had a policy of 6 months return otherwise you would need to pay it back. But they gave me an exception as I had been there for 7 years.

xyzandabc · 20/06/2023 18:27

So the additional mat pay you've already had, you won't have to pay back as the end of your 2nd mat leave will be more than 12 months from going back after your 1st mat leave.

So you're just worried about the additional mat pay from your 2nd mat leave. Just ask your payroll/HR to only pay you statutory mat pay as you're not 100% sure you will return. Ask them not to pay you the additional mat pay. Then you don't have to worry about paying it back.

wutheringkites · 20/06/2023 18:28

Op, can you cope financially without the enhanced pay?

The suggestion of taking it and putting it in a fixed term saving account is a good idea.

Sissynova · 20/06/2023 18:30

Beehavewillyou · 20/06/2023 18:00

Yes just feel like it puts me in a difficult position, where I don’t like the role and it makes me unhappy but can’t leave due to financially not being able to pay the money back.

You can just go on statutory then.

If you take the enhanced pay you will either need to work the minimum required after or pay it back. If you can’t afford to pay it back then you need to return.

Namechange202323 · 20/06/2023 18:35

I work in payroll for my company and staff must return for 6 months otherwise all additional pay (6 months full pay less SMP), has to be paid back. It’s always been enforced, so basically it usually works out staff have to work their full 3 months notice unpaid on return so they may as well just come back for 6 months then leave.

Vitriolinsanity · 20/06/2023 19:23

Options;

You can ask for just SMP, rather than OMP

You can ask for the repayment value (you can get a schedule from Payroll to gauge the amount to be folded into future salary with another employer so that you can repay your existing employer

You can hope your existing manager moves in so returning wouldn't be an issue

You can take it and resign and hope they don't reclaim which will be stressful

Vitriolinsanity · 20/06/2023 19:24

On not in as you don't like him Confused

FallopianTubeTrain · 20/06/2023 19:29

People I know who have done this take the full amount and stick the additional bit in a savings account so it earns a bit of interest for the time it's in your hands then pay it back when asked.

Hollyppp · 20/06/2023 20:08

pastabest · 20/06/2023 18:07

Just tell HR you only want SMP.

Or alternatively put the enhanced amount in a high interest account so at least it makes you some money before you pay it back.

How certain are you the people you know who didn't have to pay it back actually got it and weren't actually only on SMP anyway?

Everyone I know in this situation has had to pay it back and its been a pain the bum for them.

This

whojamaflip · 20/06/2023 22:36

I asked that I not be paid aml when I went off to have dd but they paid it anyway (their mistake as I had put it in writing to hr before I took ml)

I still had to pay it back when I decided not to go back - blame baby brain for not copping on to the extra amount in my bank account over ml 🤦‍♀️ iirc I paid it back over 6 months .

willstarttomorrow · 20/06/2023 22:49

We have a team member who has just come back from mat leave, she is pregnant on her return so is basically just doing the 3 months needed for full maternity benefits and not repay any of her last maternity leave. Not an issue at all, she is fabulous (she was previously on another team and I think will return there after this mat leave). This is a local authority (so council) job. She is full time but is only working 3 days a week because she is using up her annual leave 2 days a week (most people add this onto the end of their mat leave to have longer off). Is this something you could do rather than go back full time?

Starlightstarbright1 · 20/06/2023 22:53

Is there another position in the company that would protect you pay and be happier