Going Part-Time BEFORE Maternity Leave HELP

[hawkmcqueen]

Hi there

Hopefully someone can advise. In January I applied to work part-time (job share). This still hasn't been sorted out and interviews for the other part of my post were held last week. The person has not yet accepted.

In the meantime, I am pregnant and am due 15 January. I would be going on maternity leave, say 16 December.

If this person accepts the other part of my post, it could be mid-November before my post goes part-time.

I am obviously unhapy about going on maternity leave on part-time pay considering I will have only been part-time for a number of weeks. I had asked when I informed my work of being pregnant if they could postpone my part-time arrangement and they said no.

Does anyone know of my rights?

Thanks in anticipation.

*unhappy

Your SMP is based on average earnings at a specific point in pregnancy, so going part time won't affect what you are eligible for (although will affect your holiday entitlement).

You're not entitled to postpone it if that's what you're asking. You asked to work part time and they went to the trouble of recruiting a job share partner in order to enable you to do so (assuming this is all relating to the post you are currently in, rather than you applying for a different post).

As Rockchick says, your SMP may not be affected. It is based on earnings between weeks 17 and 25 of your pregnancy.

If you get enhanced maternity pay you will need to check the terms and conditions of that to see what it is based on. Often its based on the same period, but may not be, sometimes it's just based on salary at a single point, could be the day you go off on maternity leave, could be earlier.

Would you have been happier going on maternity leave on part time pay if you'd been part time for longer then? Presumably if you can afford to drop to part time and have been in a position to do so for a while you are in a better position financially than you would have been had your part time gone ahead earlier in the year?

I think your average earnings are calculated over the 8 week period, ending 15 weeks before your EDD. So between weeks 17 and 25 of your pregnancy. If you're going part time after week 25, as Rockchick says, won't affect what you are eligible for pay wise.

Xpost with flowery. Glad to know I got the weeks right though.

I have just done the same thing. Going pt from mid sept when son starts school. Mat pay is calculated the 8 weeks before the 15 week before due date. So I'll actually get more mat pay for two months than my reduced salary. I'm due 1st jan. my boss was a bit peed off when he realised this. Especially as they've just paid me back pay as well which will also be used to calculate mat pay! So as above, weeks 17-25. You should therefore be fine.

Thank you for your swift replies - that's great news! I just need to sit tight then and hope that my part-time hours don't start until October, fingers crossed!

flowery I worked out in January that I am actualy out no money by going part-time due to child care costs. I pay for 3 days nursery for two children and it costs me half my wages. If I go part-time my mum will do 1.5 days free of charge and my friend will do 1 day free of charge so I am very lucky that I have this support. Having the full-time pay when on maternity means I can stretch my pay twice as far and stay off longer than just the 4.5 months.

Thanks MrsMango and Rockchick. Go you Rubberstamp!

Excellent, well that's all great - free childcare and more cash during mat leave, wonderful! :)