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

Civil servant. 6 months full pay. 3 months statutory pay. I realise I’m very lucky

Teacher
4 weeks full pay
2 weeks 90%
12 weeks 50% plus statutory
21 weeks statutory
13 weeks unpaid.

6 months full pay, 3 months SMP, 3 months unpaid

Big Pharma

Teacher: 3 months full pay, 6 months statutory, 3 months zero.

Large finance company. 6 months full pay, then statutory. Men get the same for any portion they take as shared parental leave. All parents also get 5 days emergency nanny childcare per year.

Hi OP I was in a similar situation to you. Worked in a male dominated sector and was the first woman to get pregnant (I had been there 9 years!). The contract stated 8 weeks full pay then SMP. I was relatively senior so approached them as I considered it fell below the industry standard. They asked me to collect data from similar comparable firms which I did and the average was about 12 weeks full pay.
They eventually changed the policy to 8 weeks full pay but for each year over 5 years you had worked they would give an additional week at full pay. So I got an extra four weeks at full pay.
They did it for me really but they were a good firm to work for and had a low attrition rate so I saw it benefit several of my colleagues after me and I was really pleased about it.