Please help!
I'm due to go off on maternity leave mid-July and I don't know where I stand legally on car allowance and commission payments.
The law seems to be really unclear on car allowance and commission payments, whilst on maternity leave. Whereas a company car appears to be a valid contractual benefit, there seems to be some confusion over whether a car allowance falls under the heading of "remuneration" or "contractual benefit".
I work in recruitment and I earn commission on people that I place in jobs but it has been hinted to me that I may not be entitled to this whilst off on maternity leave As I look after temporary contract recruitment, many of the people I've placed will continue to work after I go off on leave, and in normal circumstances I would continue to earn weekly commission on them. (However it does say in my contract that "commission is at the Directors' discretion"). I've also been given a business plan to achieve this year, which is slightly less than normal, but as I'll only be at work for one quarter of the year, I think it would be pretty unfair to expect me to achieve a business plan and not get any commission!!
Does anyone know where I stand legally with car allowance and commission?? I'm also entitled to profit share on an annual basis but that's another story
By the way, I've been a loyal employee to the company since we set-up in business 4 years ago and I'm one of their top fee-earners (without meaning to blow my own trumpet too much!) so I am hoping that they will show me some loyalty in return... I have arranged to meet with my director next week to iron out all the formal arrangements about my maternity leave so I'd really love to know where I stand legally.
If anyone has had any similar experience or can advise on this it would be greatly appreciated!
BTW, I am really looking forward to the birth of DS/DD in August and I guess that money won't be the end of the world but I'd really love to be able to afford to have 9 months off to get to know my wonderful baby!