Maternity pay

6 replies

Ra88 · 27/09/2013 15:12

Can someone please tell me what maternity entitlement is based on as myself and my work disagree !

Is is based on contracted hours ( even if you have sickness ) or your actual earnings in a relevant period ??

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Smartiepants79 · 27/09/2013 15:23

I think it will depend on what your contract states and where you work. No idea how sickness affects it as I've never been off sick!
Here www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/maternity-pay-and-leave/?&gclid=CKGJ65ji67kCFcfJtAoduQMAxw
States that SMP is a diminishing percentage of average weekly earnings.
Not quite sure how the 'average' would be worked out.
Here is a calculator thingy.
www.gov.uk/maternity-pay-leave/pay
No idea about any extra maternity pay your employers provide.

wickedwitchNE · 27/09/2013 15:26

The average is worked out based on hours worked during the 8 week period leading up to your Qualifying Week, which is 25 weeks (the deadline for you to tell your employer about maternity leave/pay). So whatever you worked from 18-25 weeks of your pregnancy.

Wait for someone else to confirm this though, I might not be 100% correct!

Original poster

Ra88 · 27/09/2013 15:54

It is our HR dept that have said this .. For a very large well known company .

I called payroll and they have agreed with me that it's based on the 8 weeks in the relevant period not what I'm contracted to do . If HR don't know this then that is quite worrying !

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Tiredemma · 27/09/2013 15:56

its your earnings over a certain period

flowery · 27/09/2013 16:00

Assuming you are talking about basic statutory maternity pay, hours are not relevant, contractual or otherwise. It is based on the actual physical amount of money you earned during the period. So for example if you happened to receive a bonus during that time period, that would need to be included as well.

If it's your employer's own scheme, it may well be based on contractual hours/earnings and you should look at the policy.

HR don't do the calculating, payroll do, so as long as payroll calculate it correctly, there is no problem.

Original poster

Ra88 · 27/09/2013 17:06

All sorted now ! I called payroll direct and she agreed with my calculations , also had a letter apologising for HR as they shouldn't have even calculated it !

Good feeling when you know you are right ! I'm glad I got it sorted now rather than in a months time when I leave work

Thanks everyone

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