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!

tethersend I think that's half decent? I just get SMP ie/ 6 weeks at 90% then SMP :(

I get:
10 weeks full pay
10 weeks half pay +SMP
19 weeks SMP
And am planning to take a year off so the remaining 13 weeks will be at 0 pay.

It's fairly standard practice for companies who offer enhanced occupational schemes to include a pay back clause if you don't return.

Also, if you don't belong to a Trade Union, I suggest you contact CAB for advice if your employer offers you less than you were originally entitled to.

If it makes you feel any better I get zero (not UK) and am entitled to 45 working days unpaid leave, starting at 38 weeks.

One year's full pay here.... And yes, I realise how lucky I am!

I'm SAHM so nothing this time but with DD two years ago I got
8 weeks full pay
18 weeks half pay & SMP
19 weeks SMP.
(as a nurse working for local NHS trust)

The good thing about the package is that they wouldn't just give you basic pay, they would take a snapshot of your earnings around the 20 week mark and base it on that. So I did a fair bit of overtime around then and managed to bump up my maternity pay quite significantly As far as I'm aware the package remains the same now.

I have only ever had jobs that do the standard 6 weeks at 90% then on to SMP for the rest of the period up to nine months. In one of these jobs, you got a 'maternity bonus' of a month's salary if you returned to work there after mat leave. Everyone I know talks about the 6 weeks at 90% followed by SMP thing as 'rubbish' and 'awful' but I have yet to work anywhere that has offered better!

Going to get nothing with this pregnancy though as I changed jobs at 16 weeks pregnant.

I'm just getting the legal minimum from my work - so 6 weeks at 90%, 33 weeks at SMP, then 13 weeks unpaid!

I'm very jealous of all these other people getting more!

I work for an international blue chip company.

Only allowed 12 weeks off, no pay, no such thing as SMP here. In a way I'm lucky as I could afford to take 12 weeks unpaid a lot of mums have to go back after 6 weeks as that's all they can afford.

I got the legal minimum both times. Thankfully my very generous parents paid the difference between SMP and my actual salary for 6 months so that I could stay at home until my babies were that old, otherwise I'd have been back after 6 weeks.

I will get 6 weeks 90%
33 weeks smp
Remaining 13 weeks unpaid.
DH could get 2weeks ordinary paternity leave fully paid
Up to 6 months pl fully paid after babys 20 th week and before baby's 52nd week
We would be a lot better off as he wouldn't be paying for his commuter train ticket each month!
We are going to split the first year between us and then look for childcare after that. I think his company do childcare voucher scheme too.

I got 8 weeks at full pay, then SMP. This seems a bit mean to me, considering the men at my company get 2 weeks at full pay for paternity leave.

I am self-employed, so get nothing. I started again 16 days after my last child's birth.

I'm getting 6 months on full pay, 13 weeks SMP then taking 7 weeks annual leave. Took the same with dd1 too.

Just smp but that is good as that will mean I will not makemuch this year so next year will get all my childcare paid through tcs as you get more the less you make. That will be good as 2 childcares would be costing me otherwise

The same as balkanscot: 18 weeks' full pay, then 21 weeks SMP, then for the last 12 weeks nothing. Though I'll probably go back at some point in the 'nothing' period rather than lasting till the end of the year.

Oh, yes, I forgot to mention that this is the package if you are coming back to work (it differs significantly if you are not - can't remember what you get then as I never looked at it as it has been my intention to come back after maternity leave). Otherwise you have to pay SMP back if you don't return for at least one calendar month.

I got nine months full pay as long as I went back for two years after, it was reduced to 14 weeks full pay less everything you receive while off.

I work for a small but national LLP. We get

10 weeks full pay
10 weeks half pay
19 weeks SMP
Nothing from 39 weeks on

If you don't return to work you have to pay the difference between basic SMP and what you actually got, back.

But you only have to return - you don't need to return the same no. of hours. So for example I worked 4 days a week prior to having DC2 and my mat pay is based on this. But I am going back only 2.5 days a week. Many places would make you pay back the 1.5 day a week difference, but not my company.

This is a real bonus as many women do reduce their hours once going back.

6 weeks full
12 weeks half
smp up to 39 weeks
0 for remainder

i work for a voluntary organisation and seems good to me.

also, use your keeping in touch days (think you can do a maximum of 10 days) and these are paid at your normal rate of pay. you also acccrue annual leave whilst on mat leave so with DD1 i ended up with 14 months off.

in the first 18 weeks i managed easily, no petrol or lunch costs. also, remember that you will get child benefit too which does help a little.

I only get MA as I have been working as a temp staff.

2 weeks smp topped up to full pay
the rest smp

( I work for a charity and started my maternity savings last month!)

DD1 - 6 weeks at 90%
DS - 6 months full pay (went back after 4 months)
DD2 - 12 months full pay (went back after 4 weeks as I was on a project and felt under pressure to get back to work ASAP)

Long ML is great if you can take it without feeling that you are putting your job at risk as a result.

I work for a company who offer a decent maternity package - 6 months full pay.

I must say, it is extremely unforeward thinking when companies only give the basic (6 weeks at 90% then smp, shocking!). Most women offered such low support will either return to their jobs far too early (not good for baby or mother) or simply find no draw to return.

Such companies must lose some of their best people because of this.

A good strategy is to offer a decent maternity package and then request the woman pays it back if she doesn't return. This is win-win to both sides - the company keeps the employee (there is a LOT to be said for keeping staff - and it ultimately costs to retrain people too) and the employee doesn't just get something for nothing if they up and leave.

I got 20 weeks full pay, 6 months at minimum wage (so about 1700 euros/month/net). All this paid for by the state - no cost to the companies. We do pay higher social security contributions though.

But I am in Luxembourg. I think UK maternity allowance is pretty dire to be honest.

Mine works out at roughly...
3 months full pay
3 months half pay
3 months SMP
3 months unpaid

I'm a teacher working for an inner London council.. It depends on which council you work for on how good the deal is.. I think mine is great and am v lucky! Our area union rep secured the enhanced deal a few years back. Back to work minimum 13 weeks full time or equivalent when I go back or the penalty is pay back 2 weeks full salary... still a great deal I think!