SMP versus enhanced maternity?

[shallen]

Hi everyone,

I work full time for a medium sized company which although separately run, is part of a huge international group. I would describe it as quite a forward thinking, modern company with a fairly young workforce (average age is about 32).

However, They only pay SMP which I think is a bit rubbish especially for a company like this, I'm interested, is it more common to get enhanced maternity or Statutory? What do you guys get?

I have my meeting with HR in a few weeks once I get my mat1b and planning on having a bit of a dig at them about it.

Thanks in advance.

When I had my first two babies I lived abroad and got nothing from the day I finished work to when I went back- I then got the equivalent of 6 weeks pay in a lump sum ! We then came back to the Uk and I worked in the NHS and had two more babies - I think I got 6 weeks at 90% of pay then a few months of half pay and then a few months of just smp.

Both my babies were working for large wealthy companies in financial sector and I got smp for both.

They show their priorities- one had the men on full pay for the 2 weeks they got and stat min for the women!

Hi,

I work for a large international company and generally the longer the service you've done the better the benefits.

So after 5 years of service I got 12 weeks full pay, 15 weeks half pay and the reminder is SMP which I think is about 16 weeks.

You also have your annual leave days accumulated which you can tag on at the back of your mat leave payments.

Sorry to hear your benefits isn't as great, I would definitely bring it up during your meeting with HR.

Good luck!

When I was pregnant the official policy was SMP but they paid me 75% of salary and a bonus of 3 months pay when I went back
I dare say others had similar deals
If you don't ask ......

Civil service here. 6 months full pay.

Nowadays I think it is uncommon to just get SMP. I don’t know anyone who just got SMP.

I got eighteen weeks full pay then twenty one weeks SMP. Public sector worker. But I have friends who only got SMP. One is an optician and the other is a graphic designer so private companies.

9 wks full, 18 weeks half + SMP, 22 weeks SMP, rest nil. I don't have to return to keep enhanced pay though which is good

Our company had SMP. In my review last year I raised it with the owners and highlighted that other firms pay enhanced. They've rolled out an enhanced policy now!

There was an interesting thread about this in the last week or so if you search - the vast majority of people in corporate roles with international companies had between 3-6 months at full pay, SMP until the last 12 weeks unpaid. So think it is a bit rubbish really!

Thanks everyone and thanks @Namechange128 for directing me to the other thread, I need to log on via my pc and see if I can print it or send the link to HR for them to read and digest. Looks like my company are shockingly tight to just pay statutory.