Maternity Leave proposals to reduce to 18 weeks???

[TeaAndSlanket]

Just caught wind of this today, but not yet found much evidence online. Has anyone else seen anything?

Absolutely disgraceful attack on women/parents again, if it's true. The Coalition strikes again.

This [http://www.hrmagazine.co.uk/hro/news/1073135/government-s-plans-reduce-maternity-leave-weeks-criticised-mothers-employers link] is the most current thing I can find.

Try again link

You what?

Is this one of the ones where they leak something really bizarre before the official announcement, and then when they "only" do something that is still a huge change everyone breathes a sigh of relief?

I thought the government were going to introduce a component of leave that could be taken by either parent. This seems very different.

They actually already have introduced that a year ago, SQ, fathers can take the second 26 weeks, if they wish so, but not the first. A small step in the right direction, but not enough.

Never heard of the 18 week proposal.

Wow I had no idea it had come in!!! Will check that out.

DH and I would have loved that.

Just read it on directgov that is so cool.

I wonder how many men are taking it up!!!

18 weeks? Really? Fucking government really hates women and children doesn't it?

If this is true I will be firing off letters and kicking up a stink!

down from 52 to 18? i really hope this doesn't come true. how awful for new parents and babies.

Won't help to encourage mothers to bf for six months certainly...

I'm assuming this idea will get thrown out... I hope.

This article is completely misleading; I think its designed to be. The plan is to rename maternty leave "parental leave". It will still last 52 weeks, so no change in length of leave or pay. The only change would be that only the first 18 weeks need to be taken by the mother, (at the moment I think that is 24) and the rest can be shared. So its much more flexible. Women could still take 52 weeks or share it with their partners after 18 weeks. Good news for many families e.g. those where the mother earns more!

The TUC were muttering about the Govt shortening mat leave a while ago. I was going to be in a newsletter about it but never heard any more.

Re blokes taking it. Dh would if they did the male equivilant of maternity allowance as he isn't entitled to paternity pay.

if it is as you say jules then yes it is a very misleading article (it does sort of mention shared leave in passing)

they have the option of shared leave in other countries, but the mother almost always is the main one to take it.

Seems an eminently sensible idea to me- allowing more choice for parents to split leave between them.

A very misleading article but it does allow people to come out with the now standard (no matter if it is entirely without foundation) "oh, this government really hates women/children/the poor".

How much of this 52 weeks is paid? And is it paid equally to both parents or not? That is the hard facts which will actually matter on the ground - lengthh of theoretical leave is irrelevant unless it is properly funded.

The current maternity leave entitlement is for 52 weeks, of which the father can take the second 26 weeks if the couple choose.

SMP is payable for 39 weeks of the 52, provided the mother was entitled to it. She would have to have been employed for 26 weeks prior to the 15th week before her due date (basically, for the length of her pregnancy) and earning a minimum amount. As long as she met this criteria, then the SMP can be payable to him for those weeks that SMP is payable but he's taking the leave.

Sounds as if the proposal is just that the restriction on only the mother taking the leave is going to be relaxed from 26 weeks to 18 weeks. Which is a GOOD thing for everyone.

Glad that they introduced this change to maternity leave last year, but it's funny how they never shout about it........