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!

Work for a large company. I got 4 months full pay, 5 months SMP then last 3 months unpaid.

Holidays were accrued throughout maternity leave and they were very accommodating towards my part time work request in return.

For my second pregnancy I've had the basic stat allowance and I work for a little charity.

For my first pregnancy again I got the basic package working for a medium size company, they made me redundant 3 months into returning to work (had been there 4 years on a rolling contract). Very tight on the benefits etc. I have since found out that another woman who works there has received 3 months full pay and then 6 months half pay. So I guess they can change it to suit if they like you

Medium size tech firm, very male dominated. SMP only. Average salary in firm around £50k 🙄

Carey12- Re changing your mind about going back to work. I’m currently SAHM-ing but if I had the choice of going back and leaving kiddos with their dad I absolutely would. There’s a big emotional difference between leaving them with strangers and leaving (in their own home) with their hands on daddy. Don’t worry about it.

Carey we're in similar position - I'm going back at 6 months, then DH is having three, then we'll be starting nursery at 9 months. People also keep telling me I'll change my mind even though I explain that it really isn't an option for me to change my mind. Baby is 11 days old currently so far too early to tell, but I'm trying not to worry about how I'll feel in January - I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. Currently I still think that it's actually important that I keep my career that I love and worked very hard for going, and that it doesn't make me a bad mother (unlike mumsnetting while breastfeeding, which does make me feel a bit guilty!)

Univeristy lecturer:
6 months full pay
3 months SMP
3 months nothing

If DP (same employer) took SPL he would get the same conditions (instead of me obviously)

They also have subsidized (but over subscribed) nursery

It is good BUT traditionally public sector jobs have lower pay than equivalent private sector (definitely true here) but better benefits like maternity, pension etc. So I wouldn't say I was lucky - glad we have these conditions but over my career I would definitely earn more in a private sector job with poor maternity pay.

Working for an NHS organisation..
8 weeks full pay
18 weeks half pay + SMP
13 weeks SMP
13 weeks unpaid

8 weeks full pay
18 weeks half pay plus smp
13 weeks smp
Last 12 weeks unpaid

I work for nhs, i get the option to split the full amount evenly throughout the nine months or year

Aviva do 6 months full pay for both mother & father. If both work for Aviva, both receive it simultaneously. Amazing!

Mother then gets 3 months SMP, 3 months unpaid, holiday accrual.

Digital media company (30 ish people)

I'm the first to have a child while there so they have just had to write their policy:

Full pay for 6 weeks (more than I expected tbh)
SMP for 33 weeks

This thread is brilliant, I asked a similar question today and was directed to this. I have a meeting with HR within the next few weeks where I intend to have a serious moan about the fact that I only get statutory maternity. Was looking for some stats to back up my moan so very pleased I have found this to show them!!

Have a look at www.mapper.uk.com, this has lots of companies' maternity policies on it.

Oh wait, the site looks like it's not there any more.

I am a teacher in a secondary school (academy; not a big chain though) and get the following:
18 weeks full pay
21 weeks pay SMP

Worked for a very well respected professional services firm which paid a lot of staff a lot of money.

Policy was smp only which was shocking.

This is what I get, I'm taking the full 52 weeks off -

Statutory Maternity leave is 52 weeks made up of Ordinary Maternity leave for the first 26 weeks and additional maternity leave for the 2nd 26 weeks

Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is paid for the first 39 weeks as follows:

90% of your average weekly earnings (before Tax) for the first 6 weeks
£145.18 or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is lower) for the next 33 weeks.

Hi OP

We now get 3 months full pay, 3 months half pay and the rest SMP.

Do you have anyone in the same industry that you can ask? I had a similar conversation with my employers a couple of years ago (wasn't pregnant but I wanted to get something in place for the future) and found out what our competitors were offering. I then gave them all of the information, so they could see what I would get elsewhere. I'm not sure a general average would have influenced their decision.

Hi OP

We now get 3 months full pay, 3 months half pay and the rest SMP.

Do you have anyone in the same industry that you can ask? I had a similar conversation with my employers a couple of years ago (wasn't pregnant but I wanted to get something in place for the future) and found out what our competitors were offering. I then gave them all of the information, so they could see what I would get elsewhere. I'm not sure a general average would have influenced their decision.

19 weeks full pay, 20 weeks SMP, rest unpaid, but you can carry holidays over and they like you to take them before you come back.

Do we get paid OMP (Full pay) at the same time as SMP? I get full pay for 12weeks.

HR weren't clear so I'm confused.

Sorry I get 18 weeks OMP then 21 weeks SMP then 13 weeks unpaid.

I do get OMP + SMP at the same time.

Hi all, I found this thread from last year and thought I'd 'activate' it in case anyone else is in a similar situation?!

I'm currently 15 weeks pregnant and have worked in a mediumish company for 3.5 years. They're very good to work for but I'm the first person there to have been pregnant /taking leave, so they don't really have a 'package' set up, just statutory. I'm hoping to be able to negotiate a package of some form, because I've been there a good while and have worked my way up etc. My manager is supportive and said she will research and I'm to ask her what I'd like and she'll take it to the MD. But I'm not sure what to ask for?!

Is anyone else going through anything similar? Or has anyone worked /is working in a place that offers above statutory maternity, who could give me an idea of what companies offer?

Thanks in advance! X

I work for a private healthcare company.

8 weeks full pay
10 weeks half pay
21 weeks SMP only
13 weeks of nothing at all.

I can only afford to take 4 months of maternity leave and then using some annual leave after that :(

We get six months full pay, three months SMP and three months on zero. If you don't return, you don't have to pay it back.

Also can do up to ten KIT days which you receive full pay for.

When we return for twelve weeks we get five hours off each week so we can start later or leave earlier.