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!

I think if you looked at all women in the uk you would find that most get SMP only. Mumsnetters are not a representative sample.

Another statutory one here. When I started they had a good enhanced package but they changed it about 10years ago (without consultation I might add). Requested a consideration for an enhancement when I had DS but they turned it down.

6 months' full pay, 3 months' half pay, then unpaid. Private sector.

First mat leave : 12 weeks at 90% then SMP up to 36 weeks.

Second: 24 weeks full pay, 21 weeks SMP.

First was a small law firm, second a large law firm.

I had the minimum they could offer.
6 weeks 90% pay
The rest SMP up until 9 months and then 3 months unpaid.

I'm going back after 9 months but it has been a real struggle with money.
I didn't realise some companies actually offer more than bare minimum.

1st mat leave: private sector. SMP for 9 months with a bonus of 7 weeks full pay when I confirmed my return to work date and then a further bonus of 14 weeks half pay when I actually returned to work.

2nd mat leave: public sector. 6 months full pay and 3 months SMP.

3rd mat leave: SMP for 9 months.

Just a couple of thoughts. You say that you don't mind going back earlier and that you will need to. Have you considered that your feelings may change on this? For this reason I'd be careful as to exactly what you agree to when you won't know how you feel.

The working from home thing with children is an interesting one. I work from home and NEED childcare. I could never get enough work done with her around. Now, it might be feasible in your job, especially if someone has managed it previously, but don't expect your working hours to be the same. Little ones are so demanding and your predecessor may have had children who weren't. So expect that your working days might be a lot longer to fit the work in. I did go for a job interview last year for a company who's staff were all remote and who were all mums working from home with kids. I said to the interviewer that I'd be organising childcare and was told that I shouldn't feel that I need to as most people work when their children nap or in the evenings. The work all got done apparently, but then again they were all working around 15 hours a week. I actually took a different job in the end and although I work from home, I would never manage it without childcare.

Imchlibob - Why do you think Mumsnet people wouldn't be representative of the UK as a whole?

20 weeks at full pay
19 weeks’ statutory
13 weeks’ unpaid

Currently thinking about how much I’ll take as my husband is keen to take shared parental and spend some time with our baby once it arrives.

Civil service I'm 6 months full pay, 3 months, SMP and 3 months unpaid. I can do 10 keeping in touch days at full pay and get all annual leave plus bank holidays.
Plan for us is 8 months off for me which will include 10 keeping in touch days, shared parental leave for hubby for 4 months but me using annual leave so we will have a month off together.
I will be going back to work after 10ish months full time and hubby will go back part time after the 4 months is up.

I work in a very feamle dominant profession... They think we should be lucky we get SMP! And as for time off for antenatal appointments... Don't get them started on THAT!!

Work for a huge global tech company:
16 weeks full pay
23 weeks SMP
13 weeks unpaid

Good, but could be a lot better. Law and large private consultancy firms seem to offer the best deals.

Working for a university:

18 weeks full pay, then SMP to 39 weeks (though I'm actually going back at 26 weeks and then DH is having 13 weeks shared parental leave, which will also be paid at SMP rate)

First time I got SMP which was a bit of a struggle and quite stressful.

This time I'm working in a different job & will be getting full pay. I'm taking 7 1/2 months off & my OH 2 months. I took 9 1/2 months last time but didn't really enjoy it & was happy to go back to work hence taking less time this time.

RE: working from home & childcare. DS goes to nursery full time & I work in an office 4 days a week & wfh the remaining day. Work is very flexible though so if my DS is sick I can stay home with him & fit my work around his nap time/ watching peppa pig/ once he goes to bed. It is doable but you do end up then having to do work all evening in order to fit everything in so it is not something I would suggest as a FT option as you literally have no down time or time with your OH.

Thank you all. You've really given me a lot to consider, especially regarding the working from home. I really appreciate hearing from people with experience :)

Large company, based in London, ad tech, when I had DD had 6 months full pay, 3 months SMP and 3 months nothing. I was even paid out "commission" during my mat leave - linked to performance to goal (financial) whilst my job was being done by someone else. That was pretty amazing. They were not so good on other fronts though (eg discriminating for promotion).

Now I'm at an SME (though with several international offices), in the NE, mar tech, offers 12 weeks full pay, 27 weeks SMP. Pretty shit. Dad's get 4 weeks off at full pay conversely.

In the Civil Service, I get 6 months full pay and can take another 13 weeks at SMP i think! I know I am quite lucky

OP, the woman before you, were her children school age? I ask because there a HUGE difference between a baby/toddler and a school age child. I would put your child's name down in every nursery. Most good nurseries have a year long waiting list.

@TheCag - I'm jealous too! my workplace doesn't have a package so I get what the government set out. first 6 weeks 90% and then £145 thereafter. Last 3 months unpaid.

RainSim - She had both her children while working there, and was employed there in my role for 8 years. I've made an appointment with my preferred nursery for Tuesday for a visit, they do still have space for next year!

20 weeks full pay, 19 weeks SMP, 13 weeks unpaid

Hi guys,

Thanks for sharing information - it's ridiculous that there is no transparency around this point.

I've recently started a petition on the government website requesting that large companies be forced to publish this information. If you also feel strongly about this point please consider signing and sharing:

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/224103

(Further background: Jo Swinson (MP of recent having-her-vote-stolen-on-maternity-leave fame) has put a proposal on this matter www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/business-44384993 - but unless the government decide it's important enough to discuss nothing is likely to happen. Please help to get their attention by sharing this far and wide.)

Legal minimum for a long term full time employee. Then they fired me first morning back because they had given my job to the sales director’s wife. Then they had to pay me a year’s salary at tribunal.

I didn’t go back after that.

6 Months Additional Maternity Pay at full time wage.
3 months SMP
3 Month unpaid

I can add AL on (30 days - year) and of course you accrue bank holidays on top of that which are also added on at the end.

NHS Wales: have a mixture of options depending on length of service, and whether or not you intend to return for at least three months.

Minimum of 26 weeks service at the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth* You may wish to return to work SMP ie.90% of full pay for the first 6 weeks and SMP at the standard rate for the remaining 33 weeks. Also a maximum of 13 weeks unpaid extended maternity leave

Minimum of 26 weeks service at the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth* You do not wish to return to work. SMP ie 90% of full pay for the first 6 weeks and SMP at the standard rate for the remaining 33 weeks

Minimum of 12 months service at the beginning of the 11th week prior to the expected week of childbirth You wish to return to work. 8 weeks full pay less any SMP or MA, 18 weeks at half pay, plus SMP or Maternity Allowance providing the total does not exceed full pay. 13 weeks SMP. Also a maximum of 13 weeks unpaid maternity leave

@MaverickSnoopy - I’m interested in your comment that the OP’s feelings on going back to work earlier may change, because a few people have said this to me. Like OP I earn significantly more than my husband (3x approx) and am lucky in that I get 6m full pay before dropping to statutory. At which point he’ll take 6m parental leave, 3m statutory and 3m nothing.

My feelings on it may well change. I doubt my mortgage provider’s will! I’ll be going back before our joint income drops of a cliff because my earnings fall.

I think if it were a choice we’d do the same thing (he’s far more maternal than me and I’m far more career driven than him!) - but financially it’s the only viable option for us.