Parliament debate to extend maternity leave

[ejmay90]

Not sure if this has been posted already but please see this debate to extend maternity leave for 3 months.
Please sign if you agree :)

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/306691

@methtones we've covered this already but I didn't say that if you read my post.... Stop jumping to conclusions I was simply stating ONE of the reasons I believe we should get 12 months period. Not just because of covid.... And yes why not give people something extra back that have paid taxes all their life, served in the military, serve their country in many different ways....

Personally, I think the tens of thousands of pounds that the NHS spent on my prenatal, birth and antenatal care is more than enough for me.

Antenatal = postnatal

Jesskir89 because there is no money? I get that it isnt about covid. I just think it's a bit of a ridiculous suggestion.

@methtones each to their own with opinions and there's arguments to be had for both sides. I just didn't agree with people calling people for their choice to sign that's all.

Sorry OP but no. 9 month is more than long enough. Take a further 3 at your own expense, not the Nations.

I would imagine people wanting to return to work early to try and ensure they hold onto their job. Some businesses will be facing mass redundancies and there will be higher taxes. I don’t see why one group, who already have the longest funded maternity leave ever should get more.

Don't be so ridiculous.

Also what about women who want to breastfeed for longer than 9 months

Who's stopping them? I breastfed both of mine for more than 2 years and went back to work each time at 8 months.

Read all the posts if you're going to comment.

I've signed :-)

Only been on mat leave a few weeks but who knows when lockdown/safety will allow us to go back to a normal life.

Sorry if I'm being selfish but I want to experience life outside of the house with my babies before I go back to work. I or my family also need to travel 200+ miles to meet babies. Something we have no idea when we can do.

The government have just found 16 million pounds to 'rescue' the rugby league, there was no debate over that.

Let's put a time limit on those who claim benefits year after year.

I've paid taxes every month consistently for the past 18 years, I'll my £150 a week from the government with pleasure!

@Jemstar33 well said!

There are so many things people are missing out on people going through lockdown that we cannot go back and change why are mums on maternity leave any different

I have a Primary 7 son missing out on what should be a fantastic memorable year at school , a daughter not able to sit her exams

that she has worked her backside off for

I have a Nana diagnosed with cancer two weeks into lockdown beginning her treatment on her own , recovering on her own because of lockdown

We have all paid taxes during our lifetime and continue to do so even when are on furlough . When it’s over do you think I can claim my 20 % wages back - no don’t think so

I will need to pay higher taxes and my kids years down the line will still be paying higher taxes because of COVID 19 to allow the economy to recover but we will do so because it kept people in work , because it kept businesses afloat

What I will not pay higher taxes is for mums who think they need another 3 months paid maternity leave

So yep I’m being selfish too

Let's put a time limit on those who claim benefits year after year.

Are the disabled going to suddenly not be disabled anymore? Low income families going to suddenly find more money once their tax credits stop? Carers no longer need to care?

I bet you’re one of the people who tried to get everyone to “clap for kids” too aren’t you 🙈?

@Jemstar33 but you don't know lockdown will be lifted for your 3 months

@Lala241280 sorry about your kids and nana but this debate isn't about that.

We'll all be paying higher taxes, regardless of this petition and extending mat leave can actually help take some pressure off businesses.

@methtones people who have numerous children without ever having a job...

@CoronaIsComing who? Certainly not me.

@Starduststatic you're right, nobody does but as my mat leave has just started I'm hoping I've got more chance.

@Jemstar33

You want paid maternity leave extended so you can go outdoors with your babies , so your family can come and see them - really
Take the extra time off and use holidays or take it unpaid

I merely replied to let you see that not only you are affected by lockdown everyone’s life is going according to plan just now and there isn’t a lot we can do about it
My kids have grandparents they have not saw in weeks - we won’t be able to make up for lost time

For those who are against it and saying it’s going to cost more you don’t see us mums complaining that our colleagues are all on furlough so 80% of wages for being sat at home whilst we only get the bare minimum statutory maternity pay !! Use mums returning from work will be paying for that through our taxes when we have not had any benefit !

I spent the first 4/5 months with my firstborn not really leaving the house. Just sleeping with the baby. Didn’t attend any classes.

However I do feel sorry for new mums who didn’t have any health visitors come to support them. But I don’t think extending by 3 months is actusllt reasonable.

It just sounds like the mums on maternity leave wanted to feel special with their time at home and couldn’t.

Bare in mind, unlike most mums, those new mums at least had their partner with them all this time and so had plenty of time to bond as a family and so are indeed luckier than most of us mums who had to be alone with the baby for a while - which is why many of us are pushed to go to baby groups so we can feel less lonely.

So as a mum of a 6 month old baby, I think this is unreasonable

@Dertb. I’m sure a lot of your colleagues would rather be at work earning 100% and if I’m right the way you have worded your post sounds as though you think they are sat about doing nothing
As a mum on furlough I can definitely say I’m not sitting about doing nothing with two kids to home school and a house still to run

Maternity leave isn’t for going to baby groups though! It’s for bonding with your baby, which lockdown isn’t stopping. This petition is ridiculous.

For those who are against it and saying it’s going to cost more you don’t see us mums complaining that our colleagues are all on furlough so 80% of wages for being sat at home whilst we only get the bare minimum statutory maternity pay !! Use mums returning from work will be paying for that through our taxes when we have not had any benefit !

You do realise that the vast majority of people responding are ‘mums’ too.

@snaleandthewhale @Dertb @Jemstar33 agree with all. @lala241280 you speak of your kids not being able to see grandparents, my 7 week old hasn't met his! This is the whole point.