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Original poster

no bonus while on maternity

13 replies

horseshoe · 03/03/2006 23:09

Our Bonus scheme runs from Jan to Dec but gets paid first Friday in March. I went on Maternity officially on Dec 25th although I was off sick from October with pregnancy related issues.
I have not received a bonus this year and although it's discretionary, I know that everyone has one and I have received one all the other years at minimum of 7% of my salary!!

I want to write an official letter but dont really know where to start!!! can anyone help???

OP posts:

edam · 03/03/2006 23:13

Have you had any notification that you aren't getting a bonus, or has it just not turned up? If you have had a letter, what reasons did they give?

They can't just refuse to give you a bonus because you are on maternity. Unfortunately I think the Maternity Alliance, who used to be the experts in this area, may have closed down, but try googling them just in case. Also try the Equal Opportunities Commission.

HTH

yorkshirepuddling · 03/03/2006 23:31

Are you sure that you don't get a bonus? I get one when I return from my maternity leave. I guess its kinda of hold until then

SueW · 03/03/2006 23:46

Have a look at \link{http://www2.dti.gov.uk/er/individual/matrights-pl958.pdf\this booklet}. bonus is touched upon on pg 29 of doc (pg 27 of booklet) but says it is complicated area and legal advice should be sought.

In the meantime why not ask nicely if they have forgotten you and give them chance to explain/get worried? :)

DontlookatmeImshy · 04/03/2006 07:36

Wouldn't a bonus be classed as a wage at this point and therefore affect your SMP. Maybe thats why?

TheBlonde · 04/03/2006 08:36

I suggest you raise a grievance - do you have a copy of the company's grievance policy

SleepySuzy · 04/03/2006 08:40

Hmm....I work in personnel at a bank, and their policy is similar. If you are off for over 4 weeks of the year, any time off that is taken off your bonus. I.e. if you are off for 6 months, you don't get half the bonus, but it is well documented. I don't agree with the policy but that's the way it is.

TheBlonde · 04/03/2006 08:45

SS - she has received no bonus at all!

SleepySuzy · 04/03/2006 08:46

Well I would class that as discrimination, as she has clearly contributed for part of the year.

LIZS · 04/03/2006 09:25

I think you should be entitled prorata ie 51/52's, assuming you would otherwise have got it(ie if all your colleagues did) , as you are still employed, on ml or not, when the payment is made. I actually took the first few weeks off as holiday to accrue a higher proportion.

yorkshirepuddling · 04/03/2006 22:48

Where I work, we are given a bonus pro-rata - so I was off for the last month of the year so will only get 11/12th of the bonus - but I get this when I return to work, It worked wierd with the end of my 'normal' pay and the beginning of my smp so maybe they can't pay you and give you smp. I think you need to contact your personnel department. It wouldn't be fair to not give you anything when you worked for most of the year.

missseagull · 07/03/2006 14:37

Just to add, in the Company that I work we would also pro rata the bonus for anyone on maternity leave. I would suggest getting in touch with your supervisor/ own HR and ask them if a bonus is being paid this year and if it is ask for the reasons that you have not been paid. If they can't give you any reasons or they are blatantly not paying you because you are on leave, then I would consider your options for taking action against them. Receiving a bonus has nothing to do with your SMP payments that you are currently getting.

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 14/03/2006 11:13

horseshoe - I used to work for a company with a similar scheme and we used to get a pro-rata bonus (which is pretty much a full one for you isn't it?). I think they're being mean and disciminatory. Do you have a union? What's their take on it?

How are you BTW and your baby (little girl)? I posted on some of your threads when you were pg (as Potty) - were you waiting on a heart scan?
Hope it was OK.

blueshoes · 14/03/2006 11:26

In my company, women employees accumulate bonus during their maternity leave. In other words, it is not pro-rated. But bonus is declared across the board based on the company performance. It is trickier if bonus is discretionary based on individual performance. At the very least, they should evaluate your performance from Jan to Oct last year, giving due allowance for your pregnancy. Ask HR to write to you to clarify your bonus situation. Otherwise, it is clearcut discrimination IMO.

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