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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Maternity Leave/Pay

53 replies

Staceyk · 21/09/2004 16:39

I know this is really personal question, and although most of you are quiet willing to discuss all the ins & outs of bodily functions, money is always a sensative subject! It's just I work for a company whos head office is in America, there is just myself and one other lady (director in name only) in the UK office, me and this other lady are extremely good friends. Anyway I have asked my Head office to give me something in writing about maternity pay (they are a dodgy lot!! My previous UK based company paid everyone 6 months full pay. I was just wondering what others have received? and how long you stayed off on maternity leave?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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popsycal · 21/09/2004 19:53

OOOOH getting cross now - I work for the government surely! I get paid by the local authroty yet I don't get the same.....
oooooh adding to my rant!

Oooggs · 21/09/2004 19:54

Hi Tinker, we have just has part time term time allowed in our civil service department and I hope to take full advantage of this in the future.

Tinker · 21/09/2004 19:57

Oooggs - pt tt sounds great - would ideally like to do one day a week tt only

popsy - Local Authority employment rules are different than CS. Not quite sure why but cheap loans for cars used to be common in LA's- unheard of in CS. LA's generally pay better than CS I find (could be wrong on that)

Oooggs · 21/09/2004 20:00

1 day a week would be great , but it is probably what you do. Drop to school, go to work, leave work & collect from school, 5 days a week yet not working half terms and holidays. 'We' just call it part time as it is not 37 hours a week.

Tinker · 21/09/2004 20:02

It's not bad is it. Think I work an average of 33 hours per week now in order to cover school hols - about an 11% drop in pay

popsycal · 21/09/2004 20:06

thanks tinker - that makes sense

Original poster

Staceyk · 22/09/2004 07:54

Thank you all for your replies. I'm pretty sure they are only going to offer me the bare minimum. I really want something in writing from them now, I know it's early but I think my colleague/director will be leaving soon, so I wanted it all in writing before all hell breaks loose here. I have told the US bosses a little fib, I have said I need to hand a letter to my midwife and company account when I reach 20 weeks, (obviously complete rubbish, just hoped they might move theirselves) I'll let you know how I get on

OP posts:

Oooggs · 22/09/2004 12:47

Good Luck Stacey, hope all goes well with the pregnancy and the maternity benefits. xx

Original poster

Staceyk · 22/09/2004 14:51

Thanks OOOggs

OP posts:

kirstyk · 22/09/2004 15:27

I am getting my full wage for first 6 weeks then my bosses are going to match whatever the government pay ne so i am very happy. Also when i come back to work i am having my wages stay the same but days being dropped to 4 day working week

burlychassis · 22/09/2004 15:39

gosh this has made me jealous! Can't believe a company this size only pays the statutory minimum, also I am being made redundant during my maternity leave and they are STILL trying to do me out of part of a retention/loyalty bonus. grr, the tight gits

Sweetypie · 22/09/2004 15:43

Can I ask my own question here?
I am self-employed and don't earn much, DH earns so little he doesn't even pay tax.... if I were to have another child what would I be entitled to ? I would not be bale to do my work for about 4 months.
Right now I do get a lot of tax credit... would that increase ?

Sorry I am very ignorant about these things. Thank you very much for any info

Oooggs · 22/09/2004 16:09

I'm not sure of that one Sweetypie. But your local Benefits Agency should be able to help you. I think that you should still get stat. maternity benefit, child tax credit and working familys tax credit and if you already get these the Agency will be able to tell you if your amounts will be increased.

Flossam · 22/09/2004 18:51

I'll get 8 weeks at full pay, 14 weeks at half pay and SMP and 4 weeks on just SMP. Then the option to take my holiday at paft time which might give me up to 6 more weeks off. Not too bad really. Don't think I'll be able to afford any time off after that though .

Original poster

Staceyk · 27/09/2004 16:45

I did tell you my firm were horrid! Well my director friend has tipped me off, that Big bosses (Owners) hve instructed her to sack me next Sunday with weeks notice!
Just so they can get out of paying maternity pay, even though they are too daft to realised they get 92% of it back from Government.
I am now very stressed out, having budgetedto buy certain things with Oct,Nov,Dec,Jan salary and now to find that I will not get any more salary! I can try a tribunal, but that takes 3-6 months, and I have a feeling bosses will just close the UK office and then I will have no chance of claiming anything from anyone! everyone keeps telling me not to stress, bad for baby etc, but it's very hard not too.

OP posts:

Bellie · 27/09/2004 17:01

Poor you Stacey
Obviously you realise that you can go to tribunal as it would be sex discrimination and unfair dismissal if they do sack you just for being pregnant, but as you say it would take 3-6 months.
Are you with a union? You could get them to raise this for you. Failing that I have found that a strongly worded letter from a solicitor can work wonders - the US are paranoid about discrimination laws and law suits. HTH

crunchie · 27/09/2004 17:09

They cannot 'sack' you without going through all the reasonable disiplinary steps (unless they quote gross misconduct etc). They can make you redundant, but not re-employ anyone in your position or covering your job. Then they have to pay you off in some way and it is TAX FREE. If they then emply someone else you can go straight to tribunal for sex discrimination.

As a pg employee you have amazing rights and unless they follow the book you should sue the pants off them. I know that sounds stressful, but talk to the CAB and they can find a nice solicitor.

Distracted · 27/09/2004 17:26

Oh Staceyk how awful! Definitely try the CAB first as it would be easier to fight this before it happens than having to wait for a tribunal afterwards. Like Crunchie says they can't just 'sack' you, it's very hard to sack people without just reason and you definitely have the law on your side when you're pg.

Sweetypie, I don't think you get statutory maternity pay when you're self employed. There is something else that you can claim though - check the inland revenue website, I'm sure that should tell you.

prufrock · 27/09/2004 22:57

staceyk, that stinks, but you are actually really well protected. If you know for sure tehy intend to sack you I would pre-empt them by sending a copy of the UK rules and regs on pregnant employees (try the maternity alliance website) to your US HR dept. and hope they notice the bit that says you cannot be discrimintaed against because you are pregnant. You could do it very nicely - say you are not sure if they are aware of the UK law so thought this might help them to deal with the situation. Don't give in - sacking you now would be such a clear-cut discrimination case that a tribunal would not be too onerous.

Sweetypie - if you have been paying self-employed NI contributions you are entitled to something. Start a new thread and I'm sure someone will reply as I know there are people on Mumsnet who have done this (Aloha?)

And re holiday. You do actually acrue leave entitlement during any AML you take (ie the 2nd 6 months) it is at 20 days per year rather than any higher normal rate, and you can choose to be paid or add it onto teh end of your paid leave. It is a statutory right that was introduced fairly recently.

sis · 28/09/2004 10:24

StaceyK, do your employers know that you are pregnant? I know you asked for info on maternity policy but have they formally been told you are pregnant? I am assuming that you are pregnant!

If you haven't formally told them then do so as soon as possible and put it in writing - before your boss sacks you so that if you decide to take them to tribunal you can show that the dismissal was linked to your pregnancy and was therefore unfair.

I hope they change their minds and you get treated fairly!

Twinkie · 28/09/2004 10:27

I get 6 weeks at 100% of salary (although the company give you the last 10% as they are nice it is usual that you get 90%) and then 100 a week for 18 weeeks I think - I also get a certain amount each month as a benefits allowance but its a tiny amount.

roisin · 28/09/2004 10:36

I got 20 wks full pay (with accrued hol pay on top) ... even if you didn't go back - I didn't

That was in publishing by the way. I thought it was very generous, and checked with the woman in personnel about 3 times to confirm it was correct!

popsycal · 28/09/2004 10:38

roisin - I am trying to find out about accrued holiday pay....does it apply to teachers do you know?

roisin · 28/09/2004 21:37

No idea about accrued holiday pay ... actually have no idea how normal holiday pay works for teachers!

Hulababy · 28/09/2004 21:44

How do you mean Popsy? I just got normal mat pay plus the half pay (teacher's scheme). Holiday pay didn't come into it at all, although I wasn't there for Easter or half term.

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