SMP / Enhanced Maternity Pay

[KingaBee]

Hello all,
I'm very new to this forum as I recently found out I'm pregnant.

To my huge surprise and disappointment it turned out that my company doesn't offer anything above the SMP, which is likely to bankrupt me.

I will be trying to negotiate this but this is an international company with only a small 4-5 people office in the UK, and I've noticed they often don't realise what kind of benefits and general work culture companies in the UK, and London specifically offer. (The HR is abroad). I would like to be able to show them some example policies from other companies in the UK.

Could you please help me by letting me know if your company offered Enhanced Maternity Pay or just the bare minimum.

If so, were there any restrictions, strings attached, etc?
Could you also tell me what industry you work, and whether you are in London (I have a feeling more London based companies offer this because of the higher costs of living and a more competitive labour market).

I'd really appreciate your help and thank you in advance for any responses.
I'm losing so much sleep over this, and about to lose my mind too.

Thank you!

@Redpanda21

I put together proposals and included rival firms maternity packages but was to no avail.

SMP for me, we have saved a good amount though to “top up” SMP each month and cover the last 3 months unpaid.

That’s infuriating.

I hope you now or will in the future for those rival firms instead.

I don't know how successful you will be in all honesty being pregnant already, I'm not saying this to be nasty but there isn't really much of an incentive for your employer - if you leave you wouldn't even be entitled to SMP with a new employer.

Hi,

I'm in the North West and work in professional sport, our package is:

26 weeks full pay
13 weeks had pay
13 weeks unpaid

Currently have to return to work after maternity leave for 3 months or pay it back. They are currently looking at removing this from the policy.

My workplace openly said they don't want to encourage people to get pregnant so it's SMP for me!

I work in finance, 5 months full pay, the rest smp. I got that from day one of joining.

I work in finance in London. My company advertises
6 months full pay
3 months SMP
3 months unpaid

However, I'm told through the grapevine that at my level I'm entitled to

9 months full
3 months stat.

I haven't announced my pregnancy yet so can't be sure if the grade specific detail.

Work for a law firm and we only get SMP also.
You can try propose to your company but I wouldn't rely on it coming through. I'd use the time before baby is born to try sort out finances and get everything in line.

I know not everyone can do it and every pregnancy is different but I have been working my full time job and a part time job since being pregnant to build up some cash to make sure we don't struggle. My partner will cover bills during the time of mat leave and I plan to just take the 9 months off rather than the year

I work for a small start up in e-commerce they currently only offer SMP too. It’s disappointing but better than in a lot of the world. I’m planning using savings, annual leave I’ve been allowed to carry over and KIT days to boost my income during the 9 months I’ll be taking off. I’d advise you to save as much as possible and when people ask what they can get you as gifts be honest and get what you can second hand/free on places like marketplace. Things like pram/travel systems are a huge expense brand new…

SMP is fairily standard.
We saved during pregnancy and have significantly tightened our belts.

To be honest- you don't drive as much if you're used to commuting to work (we spend £75 less a month on petrol).
You have more time to meal prep so food budget can go down fairly well
You don't eat out anymore - so that saves.
Heating is a bugger as a small baby needs it to be warm
sure baby costs go up but with facebook marketplace it's maneagable.

I'll also say that what with childcare costs- even when I'm back at work I won't get much more than SMP amounts anyway.
(childcare near me is £1000 a month).

I’m in London, global company. We get SMP.

I'm in London, working at a scientific institution.

18 weeks full pay
19-39 weeks at lower rate SMP
39-52 unpaid

Still unsure if I'll take the last 3 months unpaid or if I'll return at 9 months but I'm not due until Feb so have some time to decide!

I'm in the UK working for an American company, however our UK headcount is significant with regional HR people which it sounds like yours isn't. I know my US colleagues get significantly less than I did/will.

Our policy offers the 6 weeks 90% SMP topped up to 100%
8 weeks full pay spread over the remaining 33 weeks on top of SMP
Remainder is unpaid.

I also get things like car allowance and bonuses paid as normal.

I've been saving to ensure my monthly wage is the same throughout, so hopefully by the time baby two comes early next year we won't be impacted by the drop in wage.

Saving is your best bet! But it won't hurt to speak to your organisation and ask about enhancing the policy. Good luck!

Also remember your annular leave accrues while you're on mat leave. I plan to take a years worth of annual leave at the end of my maternity leave to avoid the "unpaid" part of mat leave. (Sorry if someone else has said that, I've not read the full thread 😬) so you can factor that into your paid time off

Tricky as you are already pregnant, because this would need to be a company wide policy, it is rare (exceptions up thread noted) that individuals are successful in negotiating their own enhanced pregnancy packages.

I work for a company in the UK, about 25 employees, and we only get SMP. We save up during pregnancy to supplement it during mat leave, but it does make things tighter while I'm off.

Just SMP for me, my husband earns more so I’ll be going back to work sooner and he’ll take SPL

@Catfox1

Just SMP for me, my husband earns more so I’ll be going back to work sooner and he’ll take SPL

Sorry, I meant I earn more than my husband! Not sure why, I can’t even construct a sentence properly!

I have enhanced - 9 months full pay