Maternity Pay!

[Rollo1984]

Hello all,

I am currently in the process of baby making.. and also running a project at work to carry out bench marking of Maternity Pay. I am hoping to look at different policies out there to help support a change to pay over statutory maternity pay as we currently do. I am hoping some people might be able to help me out to support this.

I currently work for a Retail company in Yorkshire.

Any help / guidance on what your company offers is appreciated.

I work for a payroll provider so can tell you what different places offer. Can't give you the company names just the types of business
If that helps..

Thanks that would be really useful if you could.

Really appreciated.

Hmmm... I understand that retail is not normally particularly generous with maternity pay. That's more anecdotal than anything though.

The company I work for is private, but public sector funded. It's small and has been in existence for just 18 months. Their benchmarking was done against public sector organisations. For employees who have been there a year or more they've agreed to pay 12 weeks full pay (inclusive of SMP). The SMP for the remainder.

Large local authority in the SE:
6 weeks at 90% (this is SMP)
12 weeks at 50% of pay plus SMP
the remainder is SMP
Plus a bonus of 8 weeks of 50% of pay when you've been back for 6 months (which is surely just 4 weeks pay, as if comes as a one off payment, but that's how it's worded.)

Teachers get 4 weeks full pay
2 weeks 90%
12 weeks half pay plus SMP
Then SMP

School workers (not teachers)
6 weeks 90%
12 weeks half pay plus SMP
Then SMP

A large solicitors in the north:
8 weeks full pay
8 weeks half pay
Then SMP

the payroll provider I work for:
Bloody statutory only.

Let me know if there's any other types of business

Large food company
16 weeks full pay
Then SMP for the rest

Oh crucially you have to pay back the 16 weeks full pay if you do not return to work for at least 6 months which I think is a terrible policy.

My place (private company) is 20w full 19w smp.
Used to be higher but they slashed it.

Large corporate company
18 weeks full pay
8 weeks 90% pay
Then the rest up to 9 months normal maternity
3 months unpaid

NHS is 8 weeks full pay, 18 weeks half pay plus SMP then SMP only.

Further education college

SMP. that's it. Nothing extra at all

I work for a bank.

19 weeks full pay then 20 weeks statutory.

It varies a lot. The most generous seem to be tech with some giving a year paid. This might be because they are male dominated though and before SPL it probably wouldn't have cost them too much.

My previous employer was 12 weeks paid if you'd been there a year. You also had to return for 6 months not including annual leave etc.
Most employers that offer enhanced have conditions attached.

I work for a medical diagnostics company.
6 months full pay
Up to 9 months SMP only
Up to 12 months unpaid

If you don't return to work for at least 6 months after you have to pay back the enhanced portion of maternity pay

Large national construction company:
6 weeks full pay
12 weeks half pay
21 weeks SMP

You also keep your company car or car allowance throughout (if applicable) and will receive your bonus (again if applicable).

Used to work for worlds largest consumer goods company and their Mat was 6 months full pay 3 months SMP (very generous)

Work for a police force as civilian

6 weeks 90%

Then you can choose

• straight onto SMP or if you agree to go back for at least 3 months after maternity then you can have

• 6 weeks 90%, 12 weeks 50% and remainder at SMP

Large financial services company

7 weeks full
20 weeks half pay
12 weeks smp

Plus car allowance still paid, and employee contributions to pension covered

Have worked for 2 national retailers both offered 12 weeks full pay then the rest of the 9 months on smp

Small accountancy practice

No enhanced mat pay so 6 weeks at 90%, SMP until 9 months then nothing.

Teacher in an FE college- 2 weeks full pay, 4 weeks 90% pay, 16 weeks 50% + SMP then just statutory maternity pay.

Friend works at a large farming company- she gets 6 months full pay then just SMP for the remainder.

Corporate law firm
6 months full pay plus accrued holiday pay (about an extra 4 weeks at full pay)
Then statutory for 3 months
Unpaid for remainder up to 12 months

Oh and you're expected to return to work for at least 6 months or they make you pay it back. Don't know if this would actually be enforced mind you.

academia
12 weeks full pay
13 weeks 50% + SMP (if lower than full pay)
12 weeks SMP only
up to 52 weeks unpaid leave after.
need to return for 3 months in order to keep the additional pay

Public sector transport

6 months full pay
3 months statutory
3 months unpaid
Accrue bank holidays at full pay and all holiday too