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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:
Original poster
doyouthinkthisisok · 19/09/2008 20:58

im just interest in if people think that would of been better of if they still think that would of been out of order too.

OP posts:
findtheriver · 19/09/2008 20:58

I think it's slightly different if you need work, because presumably you will take the maternity leave and then return. Though having said that I would still have reservations going for a job while pregnant. The OP though, did imply that she wants to stay home (she had chosen to not return to previous job) and was looking for a new job simply to get some statutory maternity leave. Which is a piss take!

mazzystar · 19/09/2008 20:59

If she does a good job whilst at work, what does it matter what her motivation is?

Lots of people flit from job to job. Lots of employers offer fixed term contracts, especially public sector. I don't think many employers really expect a lifetime commitment any more.

If you intend to quit after dc 2 the decent thing of course would be to resign when you go off on mat leave, you would still [i think - happy to be corrected] be entitled to mat pay.

suey2 · 19/09/2008 21:01

you are being very unreasonable.
If you wanted to work it would be different, but if you are doing it just for the mat pay it just isn't on. Maternity pay and rights have been hard fought for for very different reasons, not so you can take the piss

traceybath · 19/09/2008 21:03

Expat is right.

For employers particularly small ones its not just a question of claiming back smp its all the extra costs involved in recruitment/training etc.

Doesn't do a great deal for women in the workplace either.

morocco · 19/09/2008 21:04

sounds a good idea tbh. you wouldn't qualify for any benefits from the company straight away anyway so you'd have to work for them for a while first. and you'd be paying tax, which is why you'd be entitled to claim either MA or SMP. don't see any major ethical issue here. the govt and the company have created rules they are happy with, so nothing wrong with reading the rules and making sure you fit the criteria

suey2 · 19/09/2008 21:04

I don't think so mazzystar. The employer has to keep your job open for a year

notsoteenagemum · 19/09/2008 21:08

Either you can afford to have another child and stay at home or you can't, if you're struggling so much you need to be dishonest then perhaps yo should stick to one child and get a job to actually earn money not claim a benifit.

Original poster
doyouthinkthisisok · 19/09/2008 21:08

now your mixing me up in deciding if it out of order or not.
some say yes some say no!

fyi i do a very basic job, i could train a monky to do it tbh.
retail work.
so i don't think im letting anyone down on the training recruiting aspect where i used to work they never had to advertise they just got tons of application forms so there would be no advertising costs either.

OP posts:
BreevandercampLGJ · 19/09/2008 21:10

We would not employ you.

traceybath · 19/09/2008 21:10

Do you have the front to do it? I know i'd just be too embarassed to start job on monday and then tell them i was pregnant on wednesday.

But hey - its up to you

Oh and of course if they had been a rubbish employer to you in the past i imagine that would help the decision making process.

drbread · 19/09/2008 21:13

of course it is not wrong. if you work hard and pay your tax, what's the problem.

or would people suggest there should a statatory min amount of time a person should have between children?

one of my receptionists, got pregnant on ml, and then went straight on to a 2nd lot of ml.
it is just how life goes.

what is wrong with folk!

notsoteenagemum · 19/09/2008 21:14

but what if the monkey was pregnant when you trained her would you be abit annoyed at her lack of loyalty?

Original poster
doyouthinkthisisok · 19/09/2008 21:15

bree sorry but what are you talking about?

OP posts:
Original poster
doyouthinkthisisok · 19/09/2008 21:16

well i doubt i start on a monday then tell them on wednesday.

OP posts:
mazzystar · 19/09/2008 21:19

suey - not if you resign

I kind of understand the argument about undermining a hard-fought right. And I have to disagree with the op that she is "entitled" because she's not, not unless she is in paid work for a year [or is it 6 months now?]

But many many people take jobs only intending to do them short term for a whole host of reasons.

LynetteScavo · 19/09/2008 21:19

A friend of mine got PG on mat leave, and then had her 3rd baby quickly after (by which point she had resigned). HOw long is it actuallly possible to stay on maternity leave for if you keep having babies?

I did get PG when I started working again after DS2. The pregnancy wasn't planned, but if I had planned it, it would have been perfect planning, IYSWIM. I did feel very guilty though. I claimed SMP, and I almost felt I was cheeting the state, even though the mony was a huge help with an un planned PG.

suey2 · 19/09/2008 21:20

I think your attitude stinks. Whatever you say it is a huge inconvenience for your employer and you are ripping them off. You have no interest in the job and therefore are unlikely to do it well. I don't accept the trained monkey argument- I have left a store on many occasions when the service has been poor.

platypussy · 19/09/2008 21:22

I feel really sorry for employers who have maybe only up to half a dozen staff. It must be a comstant nightmare worrying that someone is going to go off on maternity leave.

flourybaps · 19/09/2008 21:22

you would have to return to work for a period of at least 3 months after your mat leave finished or you would have to pay all of your benefits back, have you factored that into plans?

traceybath · 19/09/2008 21:24

It is why a lot of small businesses just don't like to employ women of child bearing age unfortunately.

LackaDAISYcal · 19/09/2008 21:24

flourybaps, that is only if the employer provides a top up over and above statutory maternity pay. SMP does not have to be repaid.

LackaDAISYcal · 19/09/2008 21:27

traceybath, it wouldn't work like that afaik. In order to qualify for SMP you have to have been employed for 26 weeks prior to the 15th week before the baby is due.....so working there for at least a week before even getting pregnant.

Mercy · 19/09/2008 21:28

Well the OP had no influence in the current legislation re maternity leave - afaik!

Although it may seem wrong ethically in this case, the regulations are there for an obvious reason.

Bree, why do you say you wouldn't employ the OP?

flourybaps · 19/09/2008 21:32

o, sorry. so you would just be entitled to 'state' benefits then , not actual money from employer.......

tbh im still not sure that i agree its an ok thing to do. I would loveto be a sahm myself but have to go back to work when mat leave runs out. mortgage to pay etc. i suppose you would only be getting what your entitled too but it just feels a bit 'contrived' to me i suppose, sorry not much help there really...........