Pay Rise due whilst on Maternity - when does it take effect?!

[HandbagAddiction]

OK so here's the situation. Pay rises and bonuses are effective at my company on May 1st 2006. The first new pay packet which would include the bonus then gets paid at the end of May. I intend to go on maternity leave around May 15th. So I already know that my SMP is calculated on the basis of a my salary much earlier in the year, so any pay rise I get awarded at the beginning of May won;t be taken into account.

My question however, is that if I'm supposed to accrue all my normal benefits whilst on ordinary maternity leave, what does this means for my pay rise if I don't go back to work until January 2006? Do I just get the new pay from the point at which I return or do they have to pay me the difference between SMP and my new salary when I get back, i.e. i.e. back pay, to cover the period when I was entitled to the new salary but couldn't receive it because I was on maternity leave?

Hope that makes sense - any help would be appreciated!

when you go back you would receive your new rate - you wouldn't get any backdated pay

Don't think you'd get it backdated. SMP is calculated on actual wages for specific weeks, including any bonus payments. However if you receive benefits on a flexible basis, such as a choice of company car or cash equivalent, then you should probably get that at the new rate if it changes. The new salary would apply when you return to work and for any outdstanding holiday accrued, if you, say, tag that onto the end of ML.

Formally they don't have to give it to you until you go back - as you know SMP is calculated on a period prior to your EDD. But if your company is paying you above SMP (mine paid 100% for 24 weeks) then you might find that they do include the payrise - my old firm definately does

Thanks for the feedback - shame the news is so disappointing....I had already 'spent' my back pay!!!