Enhanced Maternity Pay - What does your company offer?

[Cez91]

Hi everyone!
My first post here on mumsnet :)
OH and I have recently decided to start TTC. One big talking point for us is how we will manage financially if we do conceive and eventually have a baby.

I am the main earner in our household and am concerned I will have to go back to work after 6 weeks as we won't cope on the government statutory maternity pay (it doesn't even cover our mortgage).

I am an engineer in a manufacturing company that doesn't offer any enhanced maternity pay. In fact maternity pay isn't even mentioned in my terms and conditions. I have approached my employer and asked about my options, they are happy to have a discussion and offer some kind of enhancement but don't know where to start....

I would like to ask if there is anyone else that works in a similar industry to me and if so what are your employers offerings?

TIA :) x

Our normal mat pay once you’ve been with the company for 1 year is 10 weeks full pay & 29 weeks statutory. The enhanced after you’ve been with the company 2 years is 20 weeks full pay, then 19 weeks statutory.

Civil service - 6 months on full pay, then statutory pay. One of the advantages of being in the public sector.

Could you offer to help develop a maternity policy for your company? I previously worked in a smallish private company and the first woman in a more senior position to need mat leave effectively made them write a policy.

I think you'd be surprised how many companies pay smp only. Some may offer a bonus on return, enhanced schemes are often dependant on returning for a minimum period. It tends to be best in public sector.

SMP only - Small accountancy practice.

DH company - Local council so public sector terms.

HR should know to begin by benchmarking against the industry.

Smp only big charity

Large companies I have worked for in the insurance and financial services sector offered 6 months full pay and SMP after that. My firm offer 6 months full pay to either parent, regardless of whether their partner is taking parental leave at the same time - I think this is pretty unusual. I am seeing more fathers take extended parental leave due to this policy and I think it is fantastic for many reasons.

Public sector
After one years service 26 weeks full pay, 13 weeks statutory, 13 weeks unpaid

Also manufacturing / engineering and we only pay SMP. My friends who got enhanced packages work in financial services or for charities.

Large financial services company - 5 months full pay, then statutory.

I’m a solicitor in a large international firm. We get 3 months full pay, 3 months half pay, 3 months SMP, then three months unpaid. I didn’t think it was that great until I read some stories on here about how bad it can be - now I feel quite lucky!

Large FTSE 100 company: 39 weeks full pay (but you have to have worked for them for 3 years to qualify for the full enhancement). We get a lot of men taking their portion of shared leave from 26 weeks onwards as they tend to get paid more than their OH would get.

6 months full pay then 3 months half pay. Private firm reasonably infamous for not being nice about employee contracts. Incredibly they left this alone!

6 months full pay, then on to statutory. Feel very lucky about that, as we wouldn’t manage otherwise. Finance in London.

SMP, everywhere I've worked have only offered SMP.

My friend who go anything above SMP were either public, charity, or financial sector.

Software - 6 months full pay, SMP thereafter. Also allows up to 3 months paid paternity leave (not shared parental leave) for fathers, which is lovely.

Equal parental leave for mothers and fathers at 90% pay for 26 weeks then statutory pay for up to another 26 weeks.

Have to have a years continuous service at expected date of childbirth.

Large multinational food manufacturing company.

26 weeks full pay, 13 weeks snp 13weeks unpaid. Charity.

I work for a university snd get five months full pay. Friends with similar work for the civil service.

Back when I had my first child, Ford were the gold standard.. 52 weeks full pay! www.hrmagazine.co.uk/content/news/top-employers-for-working-families-ford-of-britain

NHS- 8 weeks full pay
16 weeks half pay + SMP
Then rest SMP

My current civil service department offers nine months full pay.

Large listed global engineering consultancy.

13 weeks full pay, 26 weeks half pay, 3 weeks SMP.

No retention etc & flexible working and wfh offered to everyone.

12 weeks full pay then 5 weeks half pay plus SMP then SMP only for the rest. I work in HE.

12 months on full pay.

Ten years ago I got 6 months on 90% and 6 months on 50%