Hi everyone, just a rant really and wanted some feedback as to how everyone else copes.
I am newly pregnant and work for a children's charity. I've just read their maternity policy and am really shocked to find that they only offer ten weeks at full pay, after which it is the basic rate of £135 pounds a week for the rest of the 39 weeks.
I know that many people receive less or nothing, so I'm not being spoilt - but I am shocked that a children's charity, of all places, would expect a new mother to return to work after two and a half months! I am struggling to understand how I would breastfeed / look after the baby etc, and worrying about how we are going to cope.
My husband-to-be is currently waiting for a visa and not in work at the moment and the drop in pay would mean we'd have to move out of our rented flat. He won't be able to claim benefits even once he is able to work. We'd barely have anything to live on so I'd have no choice but to return after two and a half months - which makes me upset to think I won't have more time with the baby, and upset to wonder how to work out looking after it etc etc.
Anyway, moan moan! Any advice, feedback appreciated - what maternity package do you get, and are there any additional benefits we can claim? Seems like we should all move to a Nordic country!
Best x