Maternity pay! Help please!

[yelyahyoung]

Hi ladies! :) I am 15 weeks. I am employed full time and have been working with my current employer for about a year and a half so I’m entitled to maternity pay and everything. So that’s sorted.
I am a boat builder and because of all the chemicals I have been moved out of the contaminated areas and into an office. However I don’t have a job role. I do nothing all day. And I mean nothing. I have a kindle now so that I can read at least. But I really can’t stand it here anymore, I have such a hard work ethic and so full of energy and I like to EARN my money, and I so loved my job before. So this is why I’ve been thinking to get another part time supervisor job with my old work at Costa. I’d be able to use up my energy there! Not to mention the little extra help with money before the baby arrives. That’s not why I’m doing it as my job is well paid, but it would of course be a great bonus. And don’t worry I wouldn’t work myself to death, I know I have to look after baby and myself and not over do it!
But am I right in thinking that I won’t be entitled to any maternity pay from there if I was to do that? Isn’t it you have to be employed for 26 weeks by the time you’ve hit 15 weeks before your due date?
Would I be entitled to anything else instead of normal maternity pay, or not because I’d already be getting it from my current job? Anyone else had similar experiences with having two jobs and going on maternity leave? Any advice would be great! Thank you!

No you won't get maternity pay from the new job. You also couldn't claim maternity allowance from them if you will get maternity pay from your main job

@dementedpixie thank you :) do you think the same would apply against paternity pay? As I went to my employers HR earlier to request a form for my maternity dates etc. And she said ‘oh not sure about maternity, but paternity’ implying that they don’t pay maternity? But paternity leave is only up to 2 weeks so I’m not really sure what she meant by that until she gets the forms over to me.
Can you claim maternity and paternity pay at the same time do you think? From different jobs? 🤔

You need to qualify for that too which you wouldn't do if you started the job when already pregnant:

www.gov.uk/paternity-pay-leave/eligibility

I don't understand what you mean about claiming paternity pay? That is for the father of the baby/your partner to claim from their employer.

You would be entitled to at least statutory maternity pay from your main job, but you wouldn't be able to claim anything from any other job you started from now.

@jollitwiglet I have no idea, that’s just what the girl in HR said to me earlier! But it’s fine because I have the forms now and it’s just normal maternity leave and pay. Not sure what she was going on about lol

You might just want to check in your contract and confirm with HR that they are happy with you working a second job, they need a good reason to stop you working the other job, but for example working another job during the hours that they are paying you for (even if you aren't actually doing much work) would certainly be a good enough reason.

@matlife I began my current job whilst I was working another job. And they knew about it. So it’s all good. And I wasn’t planning on working in the hours I am supposed to be at my current job. Just afterwards. Just so I feel I’ve actually earned some money lol. Thanks!

Could you try to find something useful to do in your current role? I appreciate you can’t be around chemicals but there’s must be something you can do to enhance the business in some way. Whether it’s reorganising the stationery cupboard or re-writing their marketing strategy. Surely there is something?

@BlueLadybird haha I wish it was that easy. We work in a massive factory building huge luxury boats for people who have way too much money lol. Most of the things involve being around or near the chemicals! I’m not even allowed to walk over and deliver small parts from stores (where I’m at now) because it involves going into the factories. I used to monitor emails and find locations for items on the system, but there is a woman who does that, amongst other things, who is now back from her holiday. I’ve asked everyone to please feel free to ask me to do little odd jobs or things they haven’t got time to do. Just to keep me busy. They do try. They’ve given me some filing to do a couple of times, but I’m so fast paced that it’s over quite quickly. And that’s pretty much my only job for the day. So it makes it hard to try to do overtime, as my 8 hour contract hours of staring at 4 white walls are long enough! Plus I hate the thought of being paid to just sit down and read my own book all day! I like to earn my money! I expressed this to my current supervisor and he said to please not worry about it, he doesn’t care, to please just relax, and that I already earned my money by sniffing glue (working with the chemicals lol). So idk. But I’ll have to find something to pass the time quicker lol before I go completely insane hahah

I can see you’re not being given work to do but can’t you be proactive and suggest something you could do?

You need a project! And it depends on your skills.
Competitor analysis- ring all your competitors and ask for brochures etc, what are they doing your co could do?
Market research- ring marinas and dealers and ask what people are asking for. Can your co meet those needs?
Supplier review- where are you getting your supplies? Is there a better/cheaper place? If so can your suppliers match it? Is your supply chain "brexit ready" and if not what can you find as a plan b?
Funny little projects like making YouTube videos showing how to do basic things for clueless clients, following up on aftersales care - what do people like or not about your boats? Even getting out there and photographing them in action in marinas for marketing.
Are there changes in legislation likely to be coming after brexit, can you look into those?
And there's always that old chestnut, organising the Christmas party...

@BlueLadybird yes I have asked too, of course :) I prefer to use my initiative anyway, even if that ends up getting me into trouble LOL. But either I’m not allowed to do it (like it’s heavy lifting, or danger of me getting hurt and stuff, etc) or it involves going around the factories, as obviously this place has a lot of health & safety rules so they are very careful about things. I would love to reorganise things and fiddle about and whatever, but literally this room at 4 blank white walls, a computer that nobody uses anymore, and a printer. And a desk for me to sit at. And some air conditioning for me to play about with. It’s not an office as such. Haha! I may start bringing in my art things to draw and stuff, as well as read. I don’t know. I’d prefer to be doing something for the company though. Today I get to go on the security gate house though so that’s something.

@DustyDoorframes those all sound like great ideas, but this company isn’t small and there are people who have those jobs covered and/or they don’t apply. We have many roles here and when I was first being placed somewhere else, nothing like that was available as someone else already does it as their job. So it’s a tricky one really. I’ll have to create my own little project! I said above I could start bringing in my art things, or I could bring in my laptop to start writing. Things like that. And I should try not to worry about fobbing the company off like I feel like I am doing lol, as nobody else seems to care and just tell me to relax.