EY Maternity Policy

[Buglette]

Hi all,

Have recently applied for my dream job with EY (one that I have spent a long time working towards!!) and am through to the last stages of interview.

As Sods Law would have it I discovered yesterday I am pregnant due in May 15.

Does anyone know if EY have a minimum length of service to qualify for maternity leave?

If I took it and didn't qualify for maternity leave what would I be entitled in UK?

You should be entitled to maternity leave regardless of length of service.

You won't be entitled to statutory maternity pay (smp) as you won't have the service. I don't know what EY offer, but I bet there is likely to be a service requirement, which you probably won't meet, if you would have newly started.

You may be entitled to maternity allowance, which is paid for by the government and is often claimed by women who move jobs when pregnant and so aren't entitled to SMP.

You are automatically entitled to maternity leave of up to 52 weeks in the UK regardless of length of service.
You wouldn't be entitled to SMP though as you will already be pg when you start, although they might pay something to you. You may be able to claim Maternity Allowance instead though - this is the same as SMP except the 1st 6 wks at 90%, depending on your earnings during a qualifying period.

From what I can figure out it, Maternity allowance would be 138.18 per week for 26 weeks, without the SMP.

I'm not sure I could even afford to take this job at that rate :(

Apart from the 6 weeks at 90% salary, SMP is the same amount.

Yes it is for 39 weeks not 26. If you don't take the job what will you get from your current employer?

As others have said, you will get maternity leave, it's maternity pay that is the issue. You've figured out maternity allowance. Now you need to find out if the enhanced package (which a quick google suggests is quite generous) has a qualifying period.

I would suggest continuing through the interview process and asking for the handbook if and when you are offered the job. That should make the situation clear

You will also get child benefit extra.

My current employer is extremely generous (up to a year at a good % of my salary) however if you take more than a set amount of maternity leave (and pay- apparently one of the best maternity packages there is) but you are contracted to return to work for a set length of time. Not ideal as it means I'd have to commute by plane while leaving the bambino with hubby for the week.

The new job is 20 miles away from where I live!