Maternity pay discrimination

[Blissfulignorance]

In my work place I've had my meeting about maternity pay, I've been offered 6 weeks 90% then the rest statutory. A more senior colleague of mine got the NHS maternity package of 8weeks full 13 half plus stat and 13 weeks stat. This was a few years ago.

Can they give us different plans or is this discrimination? Can I kick off or should I be grateful for 6 weeks??

6 weeks at 90% is the statutory minimum, not some super generous offer from your employer.

On what grounds would it be discriminatory? You are both women and I don’t see on which of the other criteria it would be discrimination. My work’s maternity package depends on length of service and seniority. I think it’s quite normal. Some may not consider it fair but that’s life unfortunately.

It depends on your contract.

For example, when I was in a school that was taken over some of us retained our local authority contracts, but any new staff were on the new academy trust contracts. Also within the school were different terms and conditions for different roles.

I would imagine the same is true of other workplaces. Are you and your colleague both in the NHS?

Depends on the length of time too, terms can differ a few years later

It might depend on how long you've been with the company. At my company (non-NHS) there's 3 tiers to the mat pay depending on how many year's service you have completed by your qualifying week.

What you have been offered is Statutory Maternity Pay.

Depends on your contract, before a year you would only be offered stat pay which is what you described. After that it’s the company policy for mat pay

Are you both NHS?
From my experience, my band 2 colleagues get the same as myself as band 6, and I assume the 8+ are the same.

Can't speak for VSM grades, but I thought NHS maternity was the same everywhere (as described in your first post)

Isn’t it normal for different jobs to come with different maternity packages? I can’t see how it’s discrimination.

How long have you both worked there? Are your positions exactly the same?

There could be a number of reasons for the different pay.

Maybe the maternity policy has since changed

Maybe senior employees get a more generous maternity package.

You can ask them the question but you need to elaborate on what grounds you say it is discrimination.

As they're a more senior member off staff, yes they can. Even if they were the same level as you, they could have a different contract to you

What you're quoting is the statutory maternity pay amount (90% for 6 weeks then SMP figure for 33 weeks). It could be down to length of service, check your contract.

I'm NHS and started in March 2020, due May 2021 and I'm just getting the SMP amount as I haven't worked there long enough to qualify for the enhanced amount. A colleague who started before me is getting the enhanced amount in April 2021, it's not discrimination, it's the terms of our contract.

Whats the discrimination point, OP?

My firm has different terms for employees who originated from different organisations that were acquired over time.

I do actually think companies should be more transparent in their policies, though.

In the private sector (don't know about public?), the first time many, many women get to find out about their entitlements is when they are actually pregnant. If it's the statutory minimum (like yours, OP) it often comes as a massive shock.

Different role get different package at my work

My firm’s maternity policy is available on the intranet, however, I think firms should have to be public about it so you know before taking a job personally.

@TitusPullo

My firm’s maternity policy is available on the intranet, however, I think firms should have to be public about it so you know before taking a job personally.

Agreed - should be transparent abs included in all material prior to interview, along with healthcare, holidays, shared parental leave policy, etc.

Very hard to ask for maternity policy at interview though!

What does the policy say?

I’m NHS. If you are NHS staff you get the NHS maternity pay package if you have worked in your employment for 15 weeks before your pregnancy I believe.
If that is the case you are entitled to 8 weeks full pay
18 weeks half pay + SMP
13 week SMP
The only reason it would be different is if you are new to employment or are bank staff

@TheLumpySofaCushion - yes definitely not an interview question! Ideally I’d want companies to publish their HR policies on their website so I can make a decision before I even apply. I want to work for companies that take care of their staff given I spend 8 plus hours a day working for them.