Maternity pay bullsh*t for teachers

[Teacherprebaby]

My school (state/academy), offers 6 weeks at 90% and the remaining at SMP so £185 a week. This is discrimination against women who want to have children. Am I being unreasonable to bring this up with my school?

Not all academies follow the "burgundy book" for teachers

I get that, I'm lucky that we will be fine. I've been at this school for years, I shouldn't have to leave to be treated fairly. I just can't believe women in this country have been accepting this as normal. I feel for single mothers who spilt from partners whilst on maternity leave, how do they cope!

Oh I totally agree with you! I think maternity pay in this country is one of the worst in Europe. You've got to hope your partner earns a decent amount to help you live. That's if you're together too!

I'm a teacher currently on maternity and get the burgundy book from my state school, which is better than what you've said you get. Have you spoken to them about it?

I do feel in this country that woman are not supported enough in order to spend enough time with their baby after they are born. Those first few months are so important and to give them the best little start in life. They need to be with their mama but we are forced apart from them too early.

Obviously not the same everywhere given that teachers in LA schools get enhanced maternity pay, as do many many people in many many jobs. I have friends who got 6 months or more on full pay. But OP it's about the terms and conditions of the job and unfortunately that's what they are for the job you accepted.

This is not a teacher issue. It’s an issue for all women since the government thinks this should be the statutory minimum. The fact ‘enhanced maternity’ is considered a benefit in some businesses tells you all you need to know.

Discrimination ffs. 🙄
Welcome to the Real world where nearly all of us get paid that!

Same in private schools. I think you get a really good deal but only if your school follows the burgundy book

My friends who got SMP and aren't teachers then got holiday on the end of their mat leave that they had accrued on full pay. Teachers don't get that.
SMP is crap anyway.

Google teacher shared parental leave and see if your school will let you do it. Mine didn't but I know people who have.

Or you could save beforehand knowing you'll be on maternity pay.

If you think SMP is too low that's fair enough but your title singles out teachers who get the same SMP as anyone else.

That's all people are going to take from your post now, that you think teachers should get a higher rate of SMP than other women. Probably worth asking MN to amend your thread title if that isn't what you meant.

This is re using shared parental leave to get paid in full during some holidays.
https://www.teachersspl.co.uk

I don’t think it’s just teachers, my place is the same.

That is the minimum by law, it is the same for a huge portion of society / UK working people. I'd hazard a guess the vast majority.

@MightWusk you realise that in this economic climate many people are unable to save, particularly to save enough to essentially stop earning for several months. Not to mention that not many pregnancies are precisely planned for.

Single mothers qualify for uc when on smp I believe

Apply for universal credit to top it up, absolutely disgraceful though. How long have you been there? I thought OPM was paid for 16 weeks before it went to just SMP.

That’s what happens when you work for an academy. It shouldn’t have come as a shock, particularly because I’m sure maternity pay isn’t the only difference in your pay and conditions compared to Burgundy Book schools.

Perhaps it offsets all those paid holidays you have. Remind us, how many weeks is it?

As do council run schools, they most likely get OMP, hardly fair is it...

Civil service gives (some of) its workers 6 months on full pay when on ML.

What I would do is leave.... I'd hand in my notice OP you can claim SMP at the job centre anyway so if that's all they are willing to offer then bye bye good teacher, their loss.

Sorry but it really isn’t. It’s minimum statutory maternity pay. Lots of people get that. You have to prepare and save to take more time off or get a job with better benefits if that’s important to you. Not just expect people to give you whatever you want

Getting better benefits and/or pay isn’t being “treated fairly”. Why do you feel so entitled when women up and down the country get statutory maternity pay?

im a single mum and I saved for maternity leave so I was fine.

You should read how teachers are paid.

I’ve always thought that part of planning for a baby is saving (not counting for surprise pregnancies) so mat pay is in addition. You’re literally receiving money for not working and staying home with your baby and having your job held for you. It really is true that the more you give people the more they want. My family is in the states so maybe I’m just coloured by that as I was so grateful to be in England when I had my babies.

For context I had 2 pregnancies including twins (no extra support financially for twins btw).