Maternity pay has gone too far

[EasterIssland]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c781m9v4255o

apologies if there is another thread about it.
havent seen one.

im lucky enough to have a good salary that would allow me saving beforehand . Statutory maternity pay would mean around 20-30% of my salary. Is this too far? It’s one of the many reasons why we decided to only have one. I felt really vulnerable when I was on maternity leave and didn’t feel I kept having spare cash every month. I do understand what she means tho , the sooner we’re back the less we get from the government and more taxes we pay. Coming from a woman hurts even more not being recognised the sacrifices we do whilst we are on maternity leave

That is interesting. Are they early 30s, mid 30s, late 30s?

If I had been asked by most if I was thinking of having children I would say ‘oh absolutely not at the moment!’.

Even when I was pregnant I was thinking Jesus! It’s quite a lot when your the first.

It’s only now in mid 30s people are quietly expressing panic to I am assuming a select few.

Precisely this. No one wants to admit they’re trying, often in relatively insecure relationships and less than ideal living circumstances. Also the man turning out to be the problem is definitely more common amongst my peers than being reported - openly - all “oh it’s your biological clock etc” but actually it’s his, whether through age or just shite lifestyle.

You don't exclusively breastfeed after six months, though. KB is full of shit, but this isn't a good argument.

@PigeonLady they range from 32 to 39, and not just my daughters but also their friends ....... maybe we just move in different circles??

@TiredCatLady No one wants to admit they’re trying, often in relatively insecure relationships and less than ideal living circumstances.

WHY are women wanting to bring babies into the world in insecure relationships and less than ideal living circumstances ????!!

I exclusively breastfed for almost a year with my disabled, severely developmentally delayed baby. They just couldn’t swallow properly. It does happen.

Regardless, it’s a moronic idea for reasons that extend far beyond the specific anecdotes of individual mothers.

Well if they are in their late thirties or early forties, they probably think it’s now or never?

It's a great idea if you're a business owner with lots of staff who have little choice over what job to do, either your firm or an equally unscrupulous one.

Go on. Tell us how MUCH Norway pays in mat pay? Dare you.

Absolutely, why on Earth don’t they pay your pension subs. It’s Stone Age level against women

If you think SMP is in any way "excessive" then you really are done deaf in my opinion. Tone bloody deaf.

And that's a good reason to have a child??!

I agree, 12 months and we should value our mothers much more as a society

Well no, but it’s understandable isn’t it. If someone has always wanted a child and thinks it’s her last chance, she may accept circumstances she wouldn’t have ten or even five years earlier

• 12 months full pay as standard for the mother

• X additional amount (suggestions for duration welcome!) use-it-or-lose-it fully paid leave for the father, which does not come off the mother’s year so fathers are more likely to take it

• free nursery hours start from 12 months so there is no gap to bridge between mat leave/affordable childcare and women do not drop out of the workforce unless they choose to

That’s my wish list. Completely the opposite direction from Kemi.

@peepsypops Go on. Tell us how MUCH Norway pays in mat pay? Dare you.

I'm not in a competition here ?? And I have no axe to grind,
Perhaps you can shed light on the question?

(and just wondering why you specifically asked about Norway??)

Just in case you can't use Google :

If you are expecting a child through birth or adoption, and have been in work for at least 6 out of the last 10 months, you may be entitled to parental benefit.
Lump-sum grant (engangsstønad ved fødsel og adopsjon)
If you are a woman and have not earned the right to parental benefit, you may be entitled to a lump-sum grant.
What conditions do I need to meet?
Pregnancy benefits
Pregnancy benefits can be granted if you are unable to work because of a risk to the foetus or your own health. For example, your work may be physically demanding or stressful, or you may work with chemical substances or with dangerous tools. You must document this with a doctor's certificate or a statement from your midwife.
You must provide documentation showing that your employer is unable to allocate you more suitable tasks. (form for alternative/adjusted work due to pregnancy - available in Norwegian only - to be completed by your employer).
Parental benefit
One has to receive a pensionable income for at least 6 out of the last 10 months prior to the start of the parental benefit period. Your annualised income must equal the equivalent of at least 0.5 G (Basic Amount). As of May 2023 this amounts to NOK 59 310.
Periods of sickness benefit, work assessment allowance, parental benefit, etc. count towards occupational activity.
Lump-sum grant for birth or adoption
A lump-sum grant is paid out to women who have given birth but are not eligible to parental benefit.
What am I entitled to and how can I claim?
Pregnancy benefits
These are calculated in the same way as sickness benefit. The maximum benefit is equivalent to 6 G annually, regardless of whether your income is higher; this is NOK 711 720 using the current Basic Amount.
You can receive pregnancy benefits from the point in your pregnancy at which you must stop working, up to three weeks prior to the birth.
Read more about pregnancy benefits and how to apply for them here.
Parental benefit
The parental benefit period is 49 weeks (15 weeks are reserved for each parent) with 100% income coverage or 59 weeks weeks (19 weeks are reserved for each parent) with 80% income coverage. Parental benefit is calculated in the same way as sickness benefit. The maximum benefit is equivalent to 6 G annually, regardless of whether your income is higher.
The three weeks before the birth are reserved for the mother (these are not part of the maternal quota). These 3 weeks do not apply to adoptions, meaning that in such cases, the total period comes to 46 or 56 weeks.
If the father wishes to receive parental benefit that does not come under the paternal quota, the mother must be in gainful activity, e.g. working or studying. From August 2022 all fathers eligible for parental benefit have access to 8 weeks of parental benefit regardless of the mother’s activity.

@setmestraightplease

Happy to set you straight on maternity leave for Denmark.

While the table you quote shows that statutory paid maternity leave in Denmark is 18 weeks, this is not the full story. Maternity leave is just that - leave exclusively for the new mother. Fathers are eligible for 2 weeks paternity leave.

New parents are entitled to an additional 32 weeks of parental leave - so a new mother could (and usually does) take 40 weeks of paid leave in total.

As well as the rate paid by the State, most employers also pay up to 90% of salaries for the full 40 weeks of leave (minus the portion paid by the State). This is a feature of most employment contracts.

@Manchegos Well no, but it’s understandable isn’t it. If someone has always wanted a child and thinks it’s her last chance, she may accept circumstances she wouldn’t have ten or even five years earlier

Well acually no - I can totally understand a woman wanting to have children!

But should you have a child just because you want one?? It's not an absolute! right

@Havanananana happy that you've set me straight😊!

I note that most employers also pay up to 90% of salaries for the full 40 weeks of leave (minus the portion paid by the State).

I'm not arguing here - but there's a difference between statutory maternity pay from the Government and what an employer decides to pay.

I think the table I posted just showed State / Government statutory pay??
Which is what we were discussing??

I think you need to consider that Ms Badenoch is talking about deregulation of maternity leave. This would no doubt mean that firms did not have to grant any maternity leave, paid or otherwise, or take employees back after it. So the exact amount, as she said later, is not the issue.

@TriesNotToBeCynical (love the user name!)
Are you certain that Ms Badenoch referred to a definite deregulation of maternity pay or are you assuming?

This. I took her comment to mean she wanted to deregulate Mat leave and have firms decide what to pay rather than a statutory amount. A real short sighted, idiot - I say that as a Tory, and if she becomes leader or in any way relevant I would stop all support for the party. They did sweet FA for maternity policies and regulating the nursery/child care sector anyway.

The point of traditional conservatism is to get more people into work and the ridiculous unregulated nursery sector coupled with rubbish maternity policies is why so many women give up work. Nursery fees are insane, nursery staff are poorly paid, they're all run by American private equity companies with billion dollar capitalisation AND they're over subscribed. In cities like London you have to register with a nursery as soon as you're pregnant to get a place and even then you may be on a waiting list. Many companies are inflexible on pick up drop off times for nursery. Most couples don't have access to decent affordable child care and the statutory mat leave is a pittance anyway.

With KB it's a case of women in power being the biggest blockers for other women. Even enhanced mat pay at top corporates is terrible and most HR directors for these same corporates are women - easy to create a Diversity & Inclusion committee, tougher to put their money with their mouth is.

I am certain she referred to deregulation. I don't think she said precisely what and how she wanted to deregulate, just that regulation (not the size of statutory mat pay) had "gone too far". I fear the amount of deregulation would depend on exactly what they could get away with. Maybe no maternity pay for small and medium businesses - who knows?

@TriesNotToBeCynical I am certain she referred to deregulation. I don't think she said precisely what and how she wanted to deregulate, just that regulation (not the size of statutory mat pay) had "gone too far". I fear the amount of deregulation would depend on exactly what they could get away with. Maybe no maternity pay for small and medium businesses - who knows?

Are you just assuming tho?

She said:

"Tax comes from people who are working, we're taking from one group of people and giving to another," she added. "This, in my view, is excessive."

I've had experience of women accepting jobs when they know they will need maternity leave, but not informing their new employer.

Maternity leave should be paid - I totally agree.

But how is a small business meant to cope with an employee going off on paid maternity leave at short notice and having to find a replacement.

I appreciate this may not happen in all cases, but it does happen.

And the employee has all of the rights, none of the responsibilities and the small business is left trying to fill the position - sometimes there doesn't seem to be a proper balance.

I think balance is what's missing in the business world - the balance between workers' rights and responsibilities and the employer's rights and responsibilities.

Both sides have rights
Both sides have responsibilities

I've had experience of women accepting jobs when they know they will need maternity leave, but not informing their new employer

What you’re implying here is that if the employer knew, they would not hire her. Which is discrimination.

Kind of obvious why a woman might keep this to herself at interview then, isn’t it.