What maternity package are you getting?

[MrsLister]

I've just heard on the work grapevine that our maternity package at work has been 'changed' recently and isn't as 'generous' as it used to be (I think you got minimum 2 months full pay if you'd been there a year, increased exponentially the longer you'd been there, then onto SMP)

I'm a bit pissed off because I havent been informed of these changes to the policy so have been assuming I would get the above (which is what i was told I'd get when I was pregnant last year - had a MMC)

Anyway - just wondering what kind of package you were getting? And are there any of you that work for companies who only pay SMP?

I work full time for a media agency and have been here 5 years

Thanks!

I work for a museum that is funded by the government, so kinda part of the Civil Service in a way. I will be getting 18 weeks' full pay, then 21 weeks SMP, then for the last 12 weeks I will be getting nothing.

You get this package if you have been working for the museum for more than 26 weeks and are on permanent contract. It differs for temporary/casual staff. Been with my present employer full time for just over 4 years.

With my 2 previous I worked for a massive worldwide company and only received standard SMP. As a lot of my wages were commission the 6 weeks at 90% were paid as an average of my wages for an 8 week period 8 weeks before I went on maternity. The only real bonus I had was that I kept my company car throughout as it is a benefit so a contractual requirement. I worked there full time.
This time I work for a smaller company on a part time basis and it's exactly the same as before.
Only difference this time is that we're now used to managing on a smaller wage so we can afford for me to have 9 months instead of 6 off!

I just got SMP when I had DD. I took 7 months off.

They were proposing signing any employee out of the Childcare Voucher scheme if they took extended leave (mat or sick). I'm best off away from them (just been made redundant).

I will get 6 weeks full pay then SMP. I am also eligible for a bonus after being back to work for 1 year x

It's amazing how some companies give you full pay and others just basic SMP!

Christ knows what I'll find out tomorrow but do you think I'm within my rights to formally complain that I wasn't informed of changes?

Or do they not have to tell employees when making changes to benefit packages?

I feel I should be asking this in a HR forum not a pregnancy forum ;)

My package is
Weeks 1-6 90% salary + SMP
Weeks 7-26 50% + SMP
Weeks 27-39 SMP
Weeks 40-52 unpaid

I get 6wks at 90%, then SMP. Theres the option of full pay for 6 months though if you plan to return to work. If you don't do a min of 3 months on your return you have to pay the extra back.

That's council, btw. I work in a secondary school.

Ooh Jambalaya that sounds very much like the 'new' system being talked about at my office. I know 'you now have to return to work or pay it back' was mentioned.

I will definitely be returning to work so maybe that'll be an option

I should probably stop panic posting and just wait until tomorrow to see what the packages is really!

Truth is I'm worried about how we'll cope financially during maternity - even though I only plan on being off for 7 months. I suppose I just need to start saving up now really!

Thanks for your responses ladies x

SMP only, but if I go back I get 25% extra pay for 12 months which I don't have to pay back.

Some schemes which pay over and above SMP sound generous but incur penalties if you don't go back/leave after a few months.

We get 16 weeks full pay, then SMP for as long as it lasts (to 39 weeks?), and the remainder to fill out a year at no pay. This is if you've worked there at least 26 weeks and plan to return to work after. There is some lesser package if you don't plan to come back, and similarly to others' above if you take the bigger package but change your mind you have to pay back the difference.

I'm only taking the 16 full pay, as I'm the only one with an income, so that's why I'm a bit fuzzy on the rest of the options...

I get 39 weeks of Maternity Allowance as I'm self employed. I'm actually better off now than I was childminding for 40 hours a week.

Op

Op it depends what is in your contract? If you have a certain package in your contract they cannot change this without notifying you of a contractual change this change should be notified in writing I believe,

DH is HR and I'm sure he has spoken about this before (I do listen to him occasionally!)

I teach at an international school overseas and as I am the first foreign teacher to go on mat leave, they have nothing set up yet, so I don't know. In Egypt most women get 6 weeks at full pay, so I am assuming I will get that. I am taking 14 months off, so am very fortunate that we can leave on dh's salary.

i work in the insurance industry. Basic SMP offered by my company. As my HR rep said "why would we pay you to sit around and play with your baby"

This will be DC2 so am already enrolled in the childcare voucher scheme, which is about the only perk my company offers. I have just found out that thaks to a European Court ruling my company will have to continue to fund my vouchers while i am on SMP and are not allowed to deduct it from SMP. It is considered a non cash benefit and must be maintained for the duration of my maternity leave the same as my BUPA insurance, gym membership, etc.

It is not much but it is something and means that DD1 can stay in nursery 2 days a week without us having to fund it from our savings/DH's take home salary. Small mercys.

I am self employed but earn next to nothing, so I dont even think that its worth claiming maternity allowance? I think thats runs at 90% of your normal earnings?... Oh well, babies dont need much! :)

Mine is the same as Jambalaya's - work as a peripatetic music teacher for a music service, which also comes under the council's maternity pay scheme.

I've gone for getting an extra 12 weeks at half pay on top of SMP - which works out quite well for me!

It's worth pointing out that although you have to go back for three months or pay it back, you can go back on a reduced contract - e.g. just one day a week! I'll be looking for a new job when I come back from ML, mainly because of the travel to the current one - but it's nice to know that should I find another one, I can go back on a limited timetable without having to pay any extra maternity pay back.

I work for my local PCT and what you get depends how long you've been there. I've been there over 3 years so get the best one which is :-

2 month full pay
4 month half pay and SMP (to get the 4 month of half pay you have to come back and work a minimum 3 month otherwise you have to pay that back)
3 month SMP
3 months unpaid (I'm going back at this point)
All bank holidays and annual leave back

Im very lucky. I work for a large multinational company at head ofice and get 6 months full pay and 6 months half pay.

I admit my package is amazing - 6 months full pay then 3 months half pay then 3 months nothing. My contract says if I don't go back full time for a year then I have to pay back a percentage but I went back 4 days and somehow got away with it!

Oh I do have to go back for three months too

I work for a smallish company in London and get 5 months full pay, 2 months half pay and 3 months SMP. I was suprised that they gave me such a good deal to be honest as I thought I would probably just get SMP!

I am a teacher and get 4 weeks full pay, 2 weeks 90% and 12 weeks half pay. Then SMP (forgotten how long for).

It's rubbish.