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Original poster

Enhanced Maternity Pay

4 replies

nivky · 14/03/2018 14:55

Hi All,

May I ask how long everybody else's company demand you to be in company before EMP kicks in?

Reason I ask:

I work in a Small/Medium sized company, 7 years old. I am the only female so far in business who has got pregnant and planning to return to work after maternity leave.

We have only ever had in contract SMP which has been communicated to me. I then have just received an update they they will now offer EMP for people who have been in company for 5 years ...from the 15 weeks before EWC. I fall short on this by 8 weeks!
I leave on maternity a week tomorrow and I feel fairly put out by this. It seems that they are offering this as a "seen to be doing right thing as they now have to deal with maternity rights" yet it doesnt benefit anybody.

I am the longest serving employee outside of management in the business so commitment shouldn't be of a question. Also 5 years seems a very long time for EMP to kick in.

Thanks for your feedback.

OP posts:

Lazypuppy · 14/03/2018 18:21

Mine is 2 years

YellowMakesMeSmile · 14/03/2018 20:02

I don't think five years is a long time, employers offer it to entice employees to return after maternity leave so that they don't lose experienced staff.

Too short a period and it can be open to abuse.

JoJoSM2 · 14/03/2018 20:37

Could you just ask management to recognise that you've been at the company for ages and ask them to bump up your maternity pay? Obv it would be an act of goodwill but they might just go for it with a bit of pressure.

lougle · 14/03/2018 21:05

For the NHS it's 12 months' continuous service within the NHS (not necessarily with the same employer within the NHS) by the 11th week before the expected week of childbirth, and intend to return for at least 3 months. Then they get 8 weeks full pay, 18 weeks half pay and 26 weeks unpaid.

If they are entitled to SMP (more than 26 weeks employment with one NHS employer) and OMP (52 weeks cumulative continuous NHS employment), it's 8 weeks full pay - SMP; 18 weeks half pay + SMP or average weekly earnings (whichever is lower), but not more than full pay; 13 weeks flat rate SMP or 90% weekly earnings, whichever is lower; then 13 weeks unpaid.

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