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Original poster

Maternity Leave - £ advice for mat pay

26 replies

coles85 · 02/02/2018 10:08

My partner and I are thinking about starting a family (eek!). I have a relatively senior position withing a growing tech company, however the maternity leave policy was written up when the company was v small (and I'm pretty sure only employed men at the time!). I am planning on speaking to HR about the current policy which is the standard SMP of 90% for 6 weeks and then practically nothing after that.

I'm hoping that by speaking to them well in advance of me actually falling pregnant (assuming I'm lucky enough Smile ), they might be in a position to alter the policy to make it more favourable (they're a good company like that - unless they're looking to get rid of me haha), but I would like to be able to go into the meeting armed with examples of what other similar companies offer.

Is anyone willing to share what their mat leave policy is, working for an SME size of company (or slightly bigger)?

And if anyone has successfully managed to get their employer to change their policy, please fill me in on the details!!

Just as background, my partner and I both work and earn comfortably - but we'd be exceptionally stretched if my income were to disappear as we are pretty much 50/50. I'm not "supported" by my hubby and losing 50% of our income would be massive. We'd ideally like to start a family next year as I'm in my mid 30s. We will obviously save between now and then...but still...

Thank you in advance Smile

OP posts:
peachypetite · 02/02/2018 10:10

Anything on glass door?

KadabrasSpoon · 02/02/2018 10:11

That's pretty standard I'd say.
Actually male dominated companies often gave occupational maternity pay because there was less women to pay it to!

KadabrasSpoon · 02/02/2018 10:14

Worth looking at what your husbands company offer to as some are doing enhanced pay for SPL now. I know a couple where the female is getting SMP only and the male 6 months full pay. So definitely worth checking.

greendale17 · 02/02/2018 10:15

My friend works in a global company and they offer the same as you

boatyroo · 02/02/2018 10:17

I work for a tech company that has grown to be now fairly large. Policy is 10 weeks full pay then SMP. There is also a return to work bonus if you return for a set period - perhaps this would be something easier to persuade them to introduce as there would be more assurance that you would return?

Original poster
coles85 · 02/02/2018 10:17

KadabrasSpoon - he works for an even smaller company, so his is minimum paternity leave too, sadly.

peachypetite - I've had a look, but it tends to be all the large organisations that you can read about, nothing comparable to where I work.

Maybe I'll just hold off til I'm 40 lol

OP posts:
Original poster
coles85 · 02/02/2018 10:18

Boatyroo - thanks for sharing, I'll possibly suggest that :)

OP posts:
TheLionQueen1 · 02/02/2018 10:19

I work at a medium sized business and my mat leave is the same, I've gone from a salary of around £2200 a month to taking home £608 this month, it's not easy!

As soon as I discovered I was pregnant I put as much money a month away as possible so pay myself another £600 every month and DH tops up the bills account.

It's quite amazing how you can find things to do that don't cost a lot of money when baby comes along!

Matilda1981 · 02/02/2018 10:19

I think that’s a fairly standard policy to be honest!!

I used to work in a very large multi national chemical company and their maternity policy was very good - you had 6 months pay at 100% as standard and then down to statutory for the remaining 6 months BUT if you went back to work for at least 6 months after maternity you would receive 6 months back dated pay (pro rata if you went back part time).

You do learn to manage on just one salary, I don’t know how much you earn but maternity pay is about £500 a month after the first 6 weeks and you’ll also get £80 or so a month in child benefit. I spent less on fuel and going out so didn’t spend nearly as much money on maternity leave as I did when I was working!!

Chaosofcalm · 02/02/2018 10:22

I work in public sector. I am a teacher and get 2 week a full pay, 4 weeks 90%, then 12 weeks 50% plus SMP and then SMP. In the NHS you get 6 months at 50% and then nothing.

I have a friend whose husband worked for Facebook and got 4 months full paid paternity leave.

scaredofthecity · 02/02/2018 10:26

Not quite right, nhs is 8 weeks full, 4 months half pay plus smp then 3 months smp

PragmaticWench · 02/02/2018 10:26

It sounds like you are financially independent, which is a positive, but it's reasonable to be supported financially when you decide as a couple to have children.

FleurWeasley · 02/02/2018 10:28

My company was the usual 90 per cent for six weeks, then a lump sum that was one months pay before going into SMP, then a return to work bonus of two months salary split over the two years pay check. (This bit was doubled if you had twins)

It works out as more if you can use holiday days (that you’ve accrued before and during maternity leave) as some of your leave. We added up the whole year and divided it into twelve to help budget better.

idontlikealdi · 02/02/2018 10:30

I’m private sector - big company though and get 6 weeks 90% , 12 weeks 50% and then statutory for the remainder. Talking to friends though 6 weeks at 90% is not Musial esp for an SME.

Original poster
coles85 · 02/02/2018 10:32

TheLionQueen1 - I'll be trying to save as much as possible, but it is so hard to save enough to cover the difference! I'll need to see where we can cut back ;)

Matilda1981 - you're right, I think it is fairly standard...still doesn't make it any easier though haha! I believe, when I'm on basic stat, that it'll be a difference of around 2.5k from what I normally bring home. It's just daunting!

Chaosofcalm - thanks for sharing. That sounds reassuring

OP posts:
Original poster
coles85 · 02/02/2018 10:35

PragmaticWench - Thank you :) We're 100% in this together, but it isn't really about him 'supporting' me, we see it more that as a family we will lose 50% of our monthly income regardless of whose wage that comes from.

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KadabrasSpoon · 02/02/2018 10:36

Another thing to think about is childcare costs. That was harder than SMP to be honest for us as it almost wipes out an entire salary. Unless you're lucky enough to have family help.

Beasmamma · 02/02/2018 10:40

I work for a tech company and there are 15 of us in the London office. I got SMP only. I know quite a few people who have also only got SMP so don't think it is that uncommon. It is tough but manageable. We have managed okay, not paying for train fares into London, lunches etc helps! Agree with TheLionQueen1 that you will find cheap things to do once baby comes along.

Beasmamma · 02/02/2018 10:51

Also, I know someone who managed to get their company to improve their maternity policy. She got 3 months full pay (instead of only SMP) by saying that it was the standard for her industry.

Original poster
coles85 · 02/02/2018 10:52

Beasmamma - really? That's great! I'm going to cling to that haha.

OP posts:
TittyGolightly · 02/02/2018 10:58

You won’t have the costs of going to work though. Others are right - the cost of childcare when you go back can be more than your mortgage!

Original poster
coles85 · 02/02/2018 11:02

TittyGolightly my cost of travel is really minimal, so I won't save much by not going to work. The cost of heating our house during the day will probably cost more haha!

Childcare (although expensive) should be fine when I'm back to earning my full wage. It's more the drop in monthly earnings I'm trying to reason with in relation to mortgage/bills/baby costs

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SvartePetter · 02/02/2018 11:18

My first two mat leaves I got 20 weeks full pay, thereafter SMP. That was a tech company with approx 300 UK employees. I now work for a much smaller tech company, less than 20 employees and will get stat only. Get savings, look at your budget. You do spend less when you are on mat leave, less lunches out etc. Also, don't underestimate the cost of childcare afterwards, another one here who pays more for childcare than the mortgage.

MaverickSnoopy · 02/02/2018 11:19

I work for a sme in the teach sector but more on the small side. They only offer smp.

I do have a friend who managed to negotiate a better company maternity policy, so it can be done.

MagpieWife · 02/02/2018 14:32

I'm in a similar position to you coles but not in the UK... And the standard in my industry is 12 weeks unpaid leave and then back to work!

It seems crazy but families here do manage, and you will too.

But there's nothing wrong with trying to make your employer a little more family friendly, so I hope they are willing to compromise. I'll be trying to improve the offer from my SME over here too.

Best of luck with everything!