Average maternity packages in the UK

[Liland]

Hi all,

I'm trying to get an idea of average maternity packages women are receiving in the UK right now (above SMP), in terms of pay and time off. I've had a google, and can't come up with anything recent and/or representative. My (very small company) employers wants to discuss my maternity package very soon, and I'd like some ideas on what to suggest. They already give me an extremely flexible working life which I'm very grateful for, and they're generally very good to me.

Thanks in advance!

TfL:

I had full pay throughout my maternity leave 12 years ago. Including owed annual leave I had about nine months off.

Working for a big corporation 20 weeks full pay, 19 weeks half pay, remainder unpaid however you then have to go back for 12m or they can claw it back from you.

I had full pay throughout my maternity leave 12 years ago. Including owed annual leave I had about nine months off.

Did you have the option to take 12 months ML at full pay?

I work for a manufacturing SME which was founded by a misogynist and is based in an area of fairly high unemployment, so the maternity package on offer is fuck all above SMP, with a bonus shitty attitude on top.

20 weeks full pay
19 weeks SMP
13 weeks unpaid

Social enterprise/charity

Better than average, but the pay is lower than others in the sector - so swings and roundabouts

NC for this - big IT company
after 2 years of work: 20wks full pay+ 19 wks SMP
Return to work bonus depending on service (1-3 months pay)

3 months full pay
3 months half pay

Also when you come back you work half time for a month but get paid for full (and could have up to 30 days annual leave to use along with Bank holidays)

Independent school- statuatory throughout so 6 weeks 90% and then 33 weeks SMP then the rest no pay. And as you don't accrue holiday in the same way you have to time it really carefully to not miss out on being paid over the hols.

13 weeks full pay (inclusive of SMP)
26 weeks SMP only
13 weeks unpaid

I will take 6 months leave, which is the average in my organisation.

Bag of shit bog standard SMP for me.

Just read your update, you're saying you don't need childcare because you work from home, don't count on that! It's bloody hard to get anything done with a baby in tow let alone a FT job!

Public sector as well

6 weeks 90%
20 weeks 60%
13 weeks SMP

Back to work when baby turned 9 months as couldn't afford to stay off any more.

Childcare isn't an issue as I work from home.

Wow - good luck with that!

Big company. 22 weeks full pay / 17 weeks SMP / 13 weeks unpaid. They continue benefits throughout too, once you are on SMP they cover it for you and then take the value out of first pay back.
It's a good deal, however there are also challenges - coming back from maternity leave part time is virtually unheard of and we do work hard and quite long and inflexible hours.

Also agree with pps - can guarantee that childcare will be an issue when you are working from home! If you're only looking to take a few months I'd start looking as early as possible for a nanny or nursery place.

6 years ago I got

6 weeks 90%
Up to 6 months 50%
Up to 9 months SMP
Up to 12 months 0

Same firm now offers

6 months 100%
6 months 50%

And the new package applies to paternity / shared leave as well as maternity

Still not enough to convince me to have another one though

Bit jealous of all these great packages. 10.5 years as senior manager, still the basic 90% for 6 weeks, rest at SMP. Will do some KIT days to top it up but it is rubbish.

Just read your post OP - legally you have to keep accruing holiday (whether or not that includes bank holidays depends on the wording of your employment contract, I found) and also benefits eg health insurance, pension, must continue during mat leave.

You obviously have a good relationship with your company so can negotiate but many companies won't allow working from home with children there and no childcare : it is difficult to get much done!

laptopdisaster (sorry I don't know how to tag) I am employed, private sector - While my contract does have a number of holiday days in it (25+BH I think), they told me two years ago that I can take off whatever time I want in holiday each year provided the work is done. There is a finite amount of work that is my responsibility, so once it's done, it's done, if that makes sense? So I do take a fair bit more than my contract, but it's never counted by them, and I don't count it.

Regarding childcare - In my head (FTM so no experience), once I feel comfortable doing so (maybe 6 months?) I plan to use a local nursery twice a week to get some solid work done, and keep on top of things. Before that, DP is going to take over childcare in the evenings/weekends, whatever is needed, to make sure I can keep up with work. I'm trying to remain flexible in my planning as I have no idea what it's going to be like.

Wow, so there's a lot of variation out there, and some very generous companies...

Should probably add that I have 5 KIT days which I will use in month 9 (November) when on SMP to top it up.

And the accrued annual leave of 5 weeks I will use to have month 10 (December) off but on full pay before returning to work in the January.

Namechange128 - Thanks for the heads up. There are quite a few nurseries in my town, but I didn't know there were usually wait lists. I'll have to make a few appointments for visits very soon then.

butunlikely - Well there are less than 10 of us, so we're pretty close knit. They've already assumed I'll be working from home with baby as their last woman in my job position did (but with two instead of one), and that baby will be coming with me to our casual meet-ups.

I don't know anyone with children, so this is really highlighting how little I know about these processes. I've been reading a lot, but it seems I'm missing some important information!

Yes, really worth chatting with someone in your life with recent baby experience about your plans for work and childcare. If you want to keep a full time job with only two days of nursery, you'd need to then have DH come home by 6, you work until 1-2am, then be up to care for the baby in the morning and all day Even if you have a predictable napper, that would likely only give you up to 1-2 hours in the day to work, after life admin, having a hot cup of tea etc.
Then on top of this you'll need to find time for washing, cleaning, shopping - all of which are increased with a new family member.

There's also the impact this will have on your relationship - on any days you do this, neither of you would get any real break between work and solo childcare, or time to spend together. Doing work on the weekends is the same. DH and I learnt this from painful experience!

I'm a pretty flexible manager but would never agree with anyone regularly working from home on days without childcare in place, it just doesn't practically work.
This sounds very negative but it really isn't meant to be - as you say it's hard to plan for this before your first! Congratulations on your expanding family and hope all works out with your leave

Somehow I've gotten to my early 30s without having any women in my life with children. I guess I've assumed that because while I work full time, it really isn't anywhere near full time hours, it'll be manageable, especially as the woman before me managed fine with two kids at home.

I guess we're just going to have to take it as it comes and be flexible. I do also plan to employ a cleaner on a weekly basis starting shortly before the baby is due to help keep me sane. I guess anything affordable that will help isn't unreasonable.

This is such an interesting thread!

I work as a teacher in a private school. I get 20 weeks at 90% pay then 20 weeks at 50%. I think this is pretty good for a private school though. Timing it around the holidays definitely makes a difference (thankfully am due in September!)

My friend works for a large London law firm and gets 6 months at full pay.

18 weeks full pay
8 weeks half pay
13 weeks SMP
13 weeks zero.

But as annual leave is 30 days and is still accrued during maternity leave, most people will finish mat leave "early" and then go straight onto annual leave (ie on full pay) for the last 5-6 weeks of their matetnity leave.