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!

@PinkSpring, that sounds good and maybe something they'd agree too.

Keep them coming ladies, I feel like this is a bit of a minefield! X

My state minimum is up to 12 weeks unpaid.

I got 6 weeks at 90% then SMP and this thread was upsetting to read!

I have worked for a very large company for nearly 10 years. Our advanced package for those that have been in the company for >2yr is 3 months full pay 6 months stat and 3 months of nothing. All needs paying back if you dont return for atleast 6 months.

We have always been sold this as a very good package but compared to my friends and family its not that great. I am grateful for what I get though

SMP only for me:

6 weeks at 90% then up to 39 weeks at the £145 or whatever it is for SMP.

I have a fairly well paid job so the £145 a week is quite a big hit. Saving everything I can before I go on leave in November

I get:
6 weeks full pay
12 weeks half pay plus SMP (not far off my full pay)
21 weeks SMP
Rest unpaid

14 weeks 90% pay, 25 weeks SMP and 12 weeks unpaid. Much Better than the statutory minimum so I'm very grateful, but by the looks of it some people have amazing maternity packages!

Mine is
18 weeks full pay
21 weeks smp
13 weeks unpaid.

We're doing shared parental leave so I'll go back after 18 weeks as my fella works part time so financially we don't really have a choice. I work for a big media company.

Same @xtinak So jealous of those that get more 😔

6 weeks at 90% and then 46 weeks SMP

When I went on maternity in my last workplace I waa given 100% pay for first 10weeks, then 30 weeks just SMP and 12 weeks nothing! At my current workplace where they are doing amazingly well and winning gols rewarss for being at the top of its industry, they are only givig SMP (so 6 weeks 90% and the rest is SMP). Iam not surprised why no one is getting pregnant at this place now lol

Mine is statutory plus a discretionary payment of 25% of gross salary used to 'top up' SMP as desired.

You need to have worked with our company for two years to get the maternity package but I got 6 months full pay then 3 months SMP.

Deffo do some forward planning for 'working from home' I assumed it would be relatively easy but even with a very easy going baby it was hard.

When my partner was watching her it felt like I was really missing family time and I was too distracted. Zero chance of getting anything meaningful done during her 45 minute nap (tea, deep breath, catch up on texts etc but never really enough to get in the work zone).

I would either get up super early or stay up late to squeeze it in. I run my own buisness so when I caught up was up to me.

If you dont need to start until the baby is 6 months get a nanny or nursery place for 2 mornings a week, you will be far more productive as well.

24 weeks full pay, 15 weeks SMP and then 13 weeks no pay. I will continue to receive my car allowance throughout and bonus payments. Will do KIT days too, which always helps.

Great question. I would have loved this information when i was negotiating a maternity package with my employer. I work for an SME (

18 weeks full pay;
21 weeks SMP;
13 weeks unpaid.

No clawback provisions - my last employer had a slightly more generous package, but you had to repay quite a lot of it if you didn’t return.

Currently 34 weeks with DC2. Big London marketing agency. I get:

17 weeks full pay
22 weeks SMP
13 weeks nothing

You need a minimum two year's service for this package - up until two year's service you just get SMP. You have to return to work for 9 months or pay back all the non-SMP parts of the package.

At my previous role with DC1 (different company, same sector) I got 12 weeks full pay, 27 weeks SMP and 13 weeks nothing. You didn't have to pay it back if you didn't return though (and I ended up leaving about 6 weeks after I returned).

I am starting leave at 38+1 and planning to take about 13 months in total, including quite a lot of holiday at the end (because DC1 is starting school next September so I am extending my time off to cover the first week or so of school).

Holiday accrues as normal and you can carry over holiday from previous years, so I have taken basically no holiday this year and am using pretty much all of it so that I only have a month or so that is completely unpaid. It will be tough, though - DH's salary will just about cover everything on its own (with zero wiggle room) so we have built up our savings to cover the period when I am on reduced earnings.

How does accrued holiday work? According to my contract I don't have an annual leave entitlement, but presumably I will still accrue 2 weeks over 6 months plus however many bank holidays fall in that period? Does my employer have to pay me for that when I go back if I request it?

With ours we accrue holiday and bank holidays whilst we are off so we can either add it to the front or end or both of maternity.

That is what I intend to do this time, two weeks holiday before, two or three at the end.

They do ask that you try to use a chunk of accrued holiday when you returned otherwise you end up with a large amount of days and we can only carry a certain amount through to the next holiday year.