Maternity confusion! Civil Servant

[Yellowskittle]

Hello!

I've just found out I am pregnant, very very early days (4 weeks) and I'm trying to figure out my maternity... Given everything goes well🤞

I've been a civil servant for just over 4 years, over 2 different level roles. My first 2 roles were under the same department and I've not long accepted a job offer (still within the Civil Service) but under a different department but the same level as I'm currently on. They've agreed to release me but I've just tested positive for pregnancy and i wasn't expecting a job offer! I'm due to start the new role in a few weeks. I'm so confused as to where i stand. Would i be classed as a continued employee under the civil service department for the 6 months maternity support or would it class as a new job completely for maternity purposes? Would my 26 week working criteria start from day 1 of my new role or from my original civil service start date? It says i must be in paid employment for 26 weeks before the due date but also inform the employer 15 weeks prior to the due date. I've work Ed out the dates from the start date of my new role and it overlaps.

Can anyone help? I have no idea where i find this information or who i speak to regarding this without having to announce something!

Anything at all would be massively appreciated!

So i believe that transferring between departments counts as continuous service (although someone might be along to correct me as i've only ever worked for one department). The best people to speak to will be your new Dept HR team, as they will be able to confirm.

The 26 weeks of employment relates to eligibility for enhanced maternity pay (eg. 6months full pay, 3 months statutory, 3 months unpaid). The 15 weeks is the latest you must inform HR / line manager to trigger maternity leave. So the two dates relate to different things.

I know it's tricky when you've just started a new role, but generally the best thing to do is to be open with HR and they can give you all the information. I moved teams whilst undergoing fertility treatment and i was promoted when 35 weeks pregnant, so i have found the CS to be very supportive around all matters relating to pregnancy.

Oh, and congrats on your pregnancy and the new role!

I have experience of transferring departments and there was a horrendous transfer form that had to be filled in by the dept I was leaving as well as the new one. Have you seen that form yet? You should see it as you have to fill a bit in. If that's been done I'd be pretty confident you'll have the continuous service you need.

I tried to add a link but it won't paste in. If you Google 'civil service transfer form' you'll find it.

Congrats on your pregnancy too!

It definitely counted as continuous service for a friend of mine who moved Depts when pregnant.

CS HR practitioner, it definitely counts as continuous service for not statutory and occupational maternity pay.

Thank you so much! So I'm better off being straight up honest when i start the role in a few weeks and inform them that I'm already aware of the pregnancy? Obviously i have new training to complete and didn't know if this would change things for my job security either, and the maternity side is something I've never had to do so i have no idea on the process or eligibility. All I've found is some policy document on google.

That's my first congratulations! Much appreciated

I've transferred before to a new building due to a promotion and didn't have any paperwork, I've got my release dste for this current role and again there's been no paperwork so assuming all is sorted behind the scenes. My SOP information has update to show the end date of my current role and assuming they just add my new one to it as they did previously.

Also, thank you!!

Thank you GinPalace2! Where do I go from here?

There is a standard process for moving departments and this will be different to moving buildings. Try to be proactive but not nagging, so contact your current depts HR and ask if they need anything from you.

Contact your new dept manager or recruitment team/HR and again ask if you can do anything to help the process.

Look at the Intranet as there is usually a leavers process and/or a transfer process This can help you to guide your manager through the process.

No need to tell either department you are pregnant, but I would tell your new manager once you start. It should take 4-6 weeks for the move to happen unless they delay it for a business reason e.g all new starters start on same day. You should be in your new role before you are 12 weeks.

Once you are on your new depts Intranet look up the maternity policy and follow that.

Note: departments usually have their own HR system which may or may not be SOP. My advice is take screenshots of your annual leave entitlement and employment history as this may be useful.

HTH and congratulations on the job and baby.

Sorry I know this is an old thread but wondered if anyone could advise when you become eligible for maternity pay as a civil servant now? Is it 26 weeks of service before the due date? I am yet to start so can't access the policy yet so grateful for any advice? Does it vary between departments?

For SMP it’s 26 weeks for OMP it’s usually 12 months.

Yes it does vary between departments. Just wait until you start then you can check out the policy.

I went through re-deployment during my pregnancy. Slightly different cos I had a 4 week trial period so I waited till that was finished until I told work (at 20 weeks, would have waited a couple more but it was getting obvious). You don't have to tell work until 15 weeks before so it is entirely up to you.