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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to get a job, just so i can get maternity leave and pay

187 replies

doyouthinkthisisok · 19/09/2008 20:24

or do you think its fair enough, you've paid in for years and your only claiming what you are entitled to, or do you think its a bit off?

my dd is 17 months old and we have decided to try for another i am a sahm at the moment.
perhaps i should of gone back to my old job, 5 months ago?
the extra money we would get from mat leave would make it some much easier for us.
of course if i got a job next week, i have no idea how long it would take to get pg

OP posts:
Sidge · 19/09/2008 20:26

Hmm. Personally I think that's a bit necky. Especially if you get a job with a small employer who then has to fill the gap for 6-12 months.

But then you could be there for some time if you don't get pregnant quickly.

expatinscotland · 19/09/2008 20:27

yeah, i think it's a bit off.

that's why a lot of employers don't like to hire women of childbearing age. and i can't say i entirely blame them. and that can really suck for women like me who needed to work in order to live, not to just seek to take advantage because i'm 'entitled' to it. .

everybody pays into the system if they work.

findtheriver · 19/09/2008 20:31

It's taking the piss. If you don't want to work, then don't get a job.

Original poster
doyouthinkthisisok · 19/09/2008 20:32

do you think i would be less off if i went back to my previous employer?

OP posts:
LaDiDaDi · 19/09/2008 20:32

Agree with expat.

You should have gone back to work after dd1 or budgeted to be a sahm imo.

LaDiDaDi · 19/09/2008 20:32

Agree with expat.

You should have gone back to work after dd1 or budgeted to be a sahm imo.

LaDiDaDi · 19/09/2008 20:33

Oops

expatinscotland · 19/09/2008 20:35

no, why would it be less 'off' just because it's a former employer?

also it could seriously backfire and cause you problems when you really want or need to go back and not just to get maternity leave.

if i were your employer i'd be seriously miffed, tbh, feel taken advantage of, and when you needed a reference later on i'd be less apt to go the extra mile.

people remember when someone's pulled a fast one on them.

hughjarssss · 19/09/2008 20:36

Morally its wrong I suppose.

But its probably no worse than the thousands of able people who sit on the dole and never pay a penny in tax or income tax.

If it makes you feel any better I would return to work in your position.

mazzystar · 19/09/2008 20:36

actually, if you are prepared to work hard and do a good job then I think it's fair enough. You might be in post a year, 18months. Many temp contracts are lots shorter. Many peope take jobs short term as leg up or way in, so as long as you are conscientious when you are there, what's the problem?

Original poster
doyouthinkthisisok · 19/09/2008 20:37

do you think if i had of gone back to work 5 months ago and was trying to get pg now that would be off too?

OP posts:
mazzystar · 19/09/2008 20:37

actually, if you are prepared to work hard and do a good job then I think it's fair enough. You might be in post a year, 18months. Many temp contracts are lots shorter. Many peope take jobs short term as leg up or way in, so as long as you are conscientious when you are there, what's the problem?

masalachameleon · 19/09/2008 20:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mazzystar · 19/09/2008 20:37

actually, if you are prepared to work hard and do a good job then I think it's fair enough. You might be in post a year, 18months. Many temp contracts are lots shorter. Many peope take jobs short term as leg up or way in, so as long as you are conscientious when you are there, what's the problem?

mazzystar · 19/09/2008 20:37

actually, if you are prepared to work hard and do a good job then I think it's fair enough. You might be in post a year, 18months. Many temp contracts are lots shorter. Many peope take jobs short term as leg up or way in, so as long as you are conscientious when you are there, what's the problem?

Original poster
doyouthinkthisisok · 19/09/2008 20:38

if i take a short term contract would i get smp?

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 19/09/2008 20:41

you might get smp or ma (maternity allowance).

Original poster
doyouthinkthisisok · 19/09/2008 20:42

but it won't be the employers that pay my smp will it? it will be the govermnt won't it?
fair enough i know they would need to get cover etc

OP posts:
Original poster
doyouthinkthisisok · 19/09/2008 20:43

say i only worked one day a week and earnt 60 a day would that not mean i earnt enough anyway to claim anything?

OP posts:
findtheriver · 19/09/2008 20:44

Government = tax payers. And as a tax payer, I'd be pretty pissed off to think people might take a job only to milk it for maternity benefits. If your goal is to stay at home and not work, then find a way to do it. Don't use the taxpayer to do it for you.

expatinscotland · 19/09/2008 20:47

the employers will need to find someone to cover your job, possibly train them, get them used to the work, advertise the job, spend time interviewing, etc.

it's seriously not on to go back to work when you don't really want to or need to just so you can milk the taxpayer.

like i said, it makes it harder for all women of childbearing age, even those who never want or can't have children or who have finished childbearing, to be taken seriously once an employer's been burned by someone who goes into it for reasons like yours.

not cool.

at all.

Original poster
doyouthinkthisisok · 19/09/2008 20:49

so what do you think if i had of gone back to work 5 months aago and was pg now?
would that still be out of order in your eyes?

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 19/09/2008 20:52

what difference does it make?

you stated in your OP that you're only looking to go back so you can get paid for the 'extra money' to 'make it easier' and that it's all good because you're 'entitled' as you paid into the system.

you'd be going back solely to take the piss and that's not cool because everytime someone does that, someone else who really needs the work, not just to make it easier on them, gets lumped into the same category.

LackaDAISYcal · 19/09/2008 20:54

If you work temporary short term contracts but make sure you pay NI contributions then you will be entitled to Maternity Allownace. There is no 90% for six weeks with that, and the most you can get is the same as the basic SMP, but depending on how much you earn in the temp job it could be less.

It's a moral question that you have to answer yourself I'm afraid, but as I was signed off sick with depression between my maternity leave periods so never went back at all but am still getting the basic element of SMP on this my second ML, I'm not sure I'm in a position to judge.

laweaselmys · 19/09/2008 20:55

I do not like this post. I got a new job when I knew I was pregnant but didn't tell my new employer because I desperately wanted and needed to work (and had only left previous job because we'd moved counties and I had to choice) I just happened to get PG at a very bad time. Luckily, now everything is all out in the open they've been really great to me and helpful about me wanting to stay on after my ML etc.

The idea that they could think I was doing what you want to makes me slightly sick.