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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To turn down a job based on...

36 replies

Nowhoopie · 21/09/2023 13:29

To turn down a job based on their sickness policy and maternity policy?

I've been offered a job. Great salary and overall package, but I've just taken a look at their sickness and maternity policy and they offer nothing above statutory for either.

Only SSP and SMP.

Now, I rarely take a day off sick - perhaps once or max twice a year but the thought of having a period of being unwell and not being paid during that time is worrying. Not to mention if I have to take a day off because one of my children is unwell.

AIBU to turn it down based on this?

OP posts:
SurprisedWithAHorse · 21/09/2023 13:31

You can turn it down for any reason you like.

Unless they're very small or have some very good reason for this, I'd be wary too (although I'm not planning more children).

YukoandHiro · 21/09/2023 13:32

Is it a large organisation? Do they have a high turnover?

I would be very wary. How would you cope if you were diagnosed with a serious illness.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 21/09/2023 13:32

Working somewhere with a very generous SSP and SMP package, having g come from somewhere with the stat minimum, I'd say its certainly an important factor in whether the job and employer is right for you.

Are you currently in work? No job vs job with crap perks I'd take the latter. In a job and comfortable holding out for better, maybe its worth discounting?

YukoandHiro · 21/09/2023 13:32

Also make sure you tell them exactly why if you do decide to turn it down .

LemonQuiche · 21/09/2023 13:33

Not unreasonable if that’s a deal breaker for you. You can turn down a job for whatever reason you like.

Zhougzhoug · 21/09/2023 13:39

It would depend on the type of organisation. It's not great, but I'd forgive it more if it was a tiny charity than if it was a big corporation. Is it lack of funds or just a general mean vibe?

One of the nicest employers I've worked for only paid me SMP, cash strapped charity. Lovely people and they gave me kindness and flexibility which was also welcome. My job before that had a generous maternity policy and had loads of cash but also were horrible misogynist wankers. I honestly think the stress of working for them was why I didn't manage to get pregnant to take advantage of the generous maternity policy, and the massive sigh of relief my body took when I switched jobs was why I got pregnant almost straightaway in the new one!

Do they have union recognition? Could you take the job and start to organise one and improve the T&Cs?

Gettingbetterallthetimes · 21/09/2023 13:41

I wouldn’t take it - chronic illness can happen to anyone.

Original poster
Nowhoopie · 21/09/2023 13:44

Medium size business (roughly 90 employees). Not a charity, not strapped for cash, as a business they're growing considerably.

I am currently employed and have enhanced sickness and maternit, hence why it was such a shock to read this new policy.

I was about to sign the contract because as I said the package offered is really competiive then reading this made me rethink the whole situation.

OP posts:
PinkPlantCase · 21/09/2023 13:46

SMP is the norm in my industry but no paid sick leave isn’t great! You never know what might happen in the future.

If it’s a deal breaker for you I would have the conversation with the company before you outright decline, if you don’t ask you don’t get. Just because it’s not general policy doesn’t mean you can’t get it in your contract.

BarleySugars · 21/09/2023 13:47

You can of course get all kinds of insurance to cover sickness. My company's sick pay isn't great so I've got a couple of policies which would be better than sick pay if anything serious happened.

Whataretheodds · 21/09/2023 13:47

Are you planning to have kids in the next 5 years?

transformandriseup · 21/09/2023 14:00

I wouldn't turn down a job because of SMP but possibility if they only paid SSP. My job only didn't tell me they only paid SSP until after I stated which I'm a bit annoyed about.

IMustDoMoreExercise · 21/09/2023 14:18

But if you had to take a day off because your child was ill you wouldn't be able to have that as six pay anyway. You would have to have it as unpaid leave.

A company I used to work for had that in their contract but they actually did pay sick leave at the managers discretion.

I would check with them before you turn it down.

PinkRoses1245 · 21/09/2023 14:29

You can’t use sick leave to take a day off if your kid is sick. I assume you are planning more kids, if SMP policy is important? Sick leave is a risk but as others said, you can get insurance. I’d speak to the employer, I’m sure they’d want to know why, if you turn the job down.

cocksstrideintheevening · 21/09/2023 14:54

I'm too old for kids now but no way would I accept if they would have been on the cards at the time.

Is there any other package - life / health etc?

cocksstrideintheevening · 21/09/2023 14:55

Oh and you can't go sick if your kid is sick.

Notamum12345577 · 21/09/2023 15:00

Nowhoopie · 21/09/2023 13:29

To turn down a job based on their sickness policy and maternity policy?

I've been offered a job. Great salary and overall package, but I've just taken a look at their sickness and maternity policy and they offer nothing above statutory for either.

Only SSP and SMP.

Now, I rarely take a day off sick - perhaps once or max twice a year but the thought of having a period of being unwell and not being paid during that time is worrying. Not to mention if I have to take a day off because one of my children is unwell.

AIBU to turn it down based on this?

Personally I think they should pay proper sick pay. But for your other comment, I haven’t heard of a place allowing someone to take sick pay for a sick child? Usually they will make you take that as emergency annual leave?

MintJulia · 21/09/2023 15:00

I've never worked anywhere that only gave SSP, and I wouldn't be happy either. I've been sick twice in a 40yr career, once for an emergency op and I was off 6 weeks, and once with breast cancer when I only took 8 days. And worked from home for three of those.

Yanbu. I go above and beyond and I expect my employer to support me. Give & take.

Totalwasteofpaper · 21/09/2023 15:49

If I liked the job I would ask/negotiate for enhanced sickness and maternity. I have done this successfully twice.

If they wouldn't budge I would decline decline. Whatever about mat leave the sickness is a clear signal on how they view employees

AgnesX · 21/09/2023 15:54

Not sure why you would take a sick day if your child is ill. They're not for that.

That said, I wouldn't blame you for not taking the job, obviously the company doesn't care that much about their employees' health and wellbeing.

maddening · 21/09/2023 16:00

I moved to another company because they had a great sickness policy, like you I am rarely sick but after my friend had cancer I felt I couldn't risk it - and I have since had complications from a surgery (not cosmetic) which included 2 hospital stays and needed 7 weeks off - and i was so glad I did not have to worry about pay on top of that- and I have not been off sick since then.

Hotsaucegal · 21/09/2023 16:06

I depends how attractive the rest of the job is. However, I’m a bit wary about employers that offer the bare minimum (statutory), sometimes hints at bad company culture - i.e. they don’t look after their people.

PickledPurplePickle · 21/09/2023 16:14

You wouldn’t be able to take sick leave if
your child was unwell - it would likely be unpaid leave

lots of companies have statutory as a minimum

gogomoto · 21/09/2023 16:17

It is common to only get statutory sick pay, and unless you are planning more kids maternity is irrelevant. You don't get paid if you are off when your children are sick anyway, sick leave is for you being sick, family leave or annual leave is for child sickness

AndIKnewYouMeantIt · 21/09/2023 16:21

YABU if you are expecting to use sick pay to care for sick DC in any job.

For your own long term illness it's advisable to have income protection or critical illness cover anyway. If you were to work in a job offering good sickness benefits for 5 years then try and take out a personal policy when you are 5 years older it will be much more expensive.