Enhanced maternity pay

[Astanworth]

Hi I believe my company are wrong in saying I am not entitled to enhanced maternity pay but as I understand it going off the maternity policy I am.

The policy states - you will be entitled to CMP if: you have been continuously employed for 2 years before the fifteenth week before your EWC and are still employed by the company during your qualifying week.

I had been employed by the company for 2 years on the 24th May 2024 and my EWC Is 7th December 2024 so the fifteenth week before that would be 18th August 2024 so to me I fit the criteria?

Am I understanding this wrong?

Yes, if you have 2 years service by the 15th week before EWC, you should qualify. Can you ask them to explain why they don’t believe you are, based on this criteria?

Did you have a three month probation? Shouldn't effect it but I wonder if they're being cheeky and saying that probationary period won't count when it should.

Definitely go back to them laying out the dates per your OP and ask them to clarify why they consider you don't meet the criteria.

Sounds like you are eligible. Query it, and if they are still saying no, I would contact Pregnant then Screwed for legal advice: https://pregnantthenscrewed.com/advice-page-how-our-legal-advice-line-works/#:~:text=Call%20the%20Pregnant%20Then%20Screwed,trained%20HR%20advisors%20%E2%80%93%20not%20solicitors.

Did you start on a different contract that wasn’t eligible for enhanced pay? Our old policy used to say that you had to have the amount of service on your manager contract to be entitled to the manager pay but we changed it to start date when we increase the amount of pay. That’s the only reason I can think that they’re saying you’re not entitled. Get them to explain and you may wish to contact ACAS for help too.

Agree, that’s my understanding too.

What’s their explanation?

You sound eligible???

Thanks everyone they have come back after I have laid out the dates to them and they advised they were looking at the wrong part of the maternity policy and apologise for the inconvenience, I will be entitled to the enhanced policy