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Original poster

Company Maternity Policy.. (lack of...)

44 replies

nics1stbaby · 02/07/2002 10:55

Can anyone out there advise me as to if there is time deadline when my employer should let me know about the company maternity policy?

I told my employer that I was pregnant when I was just 10 weeks pregnant. I am now 23 weeks. As I am the first pregnancy in this companies 8 year life, I put together a clear proposal for my boss covering everything that I would like (it was very clear, I got advice from Mumsnetters, and research with friends work, etc.). I submitted this about 4 weeks ago... and I haven't heard a bean since...? I even gave them a sample policy from my friends firm about 6 weeks ago.

OP posts:
Melly · 02/07/2002 21:45

Hi Nicfirstbaby, I think I would definitely chase them up and don't be fobbed off, after all you have been totally up front by telling them from as early as 10 weeks and putting together a proposal. Ok so you're their first pregnancy in the company, but that doesn't excuse a lack of policy and at 23 weeks I would imagine you would certainly want to start making some plans for the future.
Good luck

Original poster
nics1stbaby · 03/07/2002 17:50

Thanks Melly. I have now asked for an update and have been told I will hear something by the end of the week... which would be nice.

OP posts:
sis · 04/07/2002 15:23

nics1stbaby, bear with them as they are probably having to make things up as they go along! there is no legal requirement for companies to have a maternity policy they could just turn around and say that they only provide the minimum which they are required to by law.

good luck, I hope you get the deal you are happy with.

Original poster
nics1stbaby · 05/09/2002 10:06

I need to rant. I'm getting very fed up that with just three week's to go till I leave work my lame excuse of an MD has yet to let me know how much I will be paid in writing for my maternity leave. He's just impossible to get time with but he's the only person to speak to ask I understand from accounts that he is handling this. I had a letter way back not long after starting this thread letting me know that my request to work part time will be negotiated one month before I am due to return (don't put yourself out guys) and that my request for additional maternity pay was still being reviewed.

I have assumed (wisely!) that I will be getting the basics, but I desperately need a letter outlining everything to defer my student loan payments each month.

Everything here is always so shady when it comes to money. I'm sorry to say this is the very last time I work for a family run asian company (I didn't know it was family owned when I started, as the husband and wife team use 'professional' names). Penny pinching meanies.

I wouldn't mind if I did a bad job but I am constantly achieving measurable results for them. I have been given a million and one deadlines to meet before I leave as it seems I am handing marketing over to at least 10 people who are completely unqualified (including the MD who is asking me to explain how I built our databases, how I manage the website). Doh.

OP posts:
sinclair · 05/09/2002 10:14

My expereince is that the bigger the company the meaner they can get. My advice is this. Assume you will get the basic money, take all the time off you can afford (up to 40 weeks now) and go back under whatever terms you can negotiate - and use their time and facilities to hunt down a new job. Enjoy your baby and good luck!

Original poster
nics1stbaby · 05/09/2002 10:28

Too right! I just don't think I could stomach coming back here, but my sensible head tells me that I might just have too.

Can't wait to enjoy my new little baby.

OP posts:
PamT · 05/09/2002 10:54

Have you tried going to the Maternity Alliance for advice? Or is everything just down to your employers? It sounds like they need a good kick up the bum!

debster · 05/09/2002 13:01

I'm sorry for being harsh nics1stbaby but I take great offence at your comment regarding your employer. The fact they are treating you this way does not equate with the fact they are Asian. It certainly does not give you the right to pass judgement on them purely on the grounds of race. You are on very dodgy ground there. I agree your employers are being unreasonable but would you say the same things if they were disabled, women, Black etc?

sister · 05/09/2002 14:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Croppy · 05/09/2002 14:47

!

sister · 05/09/2002 14:50

Croppy, I'm just waiting for my head to be bitten off!!!

Original poster
nics1stbaby · 05/09/2002 15:11

Debster,

I hear what you are saying. This isn't a colour thing. For the record, I am not in the least bit racist, this is just my actual finding and personal comment from working in an asian run company. The FD owns the company. His son is the MD. His wife is the lead consultant. There family friend is the Account director. Two of our main sales people are relatives. We have numerous cousins working here. The companies we deal with are owned by relatives. We only buy from either relatives, or someone that knows someone. They laugh, not me, about how they are always trying to get a better deal. It's a completely cultural thing, and something that I know I will steer clear of in future.

Working with Asians is not a problem. I take people as they come. But an Asian run company is another thing for me personally.

OP posts:
sister · 05/09/2002 15:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
nics1stbaby · 05/09/2002 15:17

...are you stirring Sister ;0

OP posts:
bossykate · 05/09/2002 15:20

i agree with debster. sister, not funny, not funny at all.

sister · 05/09/2002 15:28

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Message withdrawn

Bozza · 05/09/2002 15:30

Isn't it more the small family business aspect than the cultural aspect - surely? thats causing the problem. I'm sure such businesses exist in other cultures.

sister · 05/09/2002 15:36

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Message withdrawn

Original poster
nics1stbaby · 05/09/2002 15:38

I'll have to disagree (again, only from my own experience - which lets face it is going to be very limited and therefore my findings will be just assumptions I am making from this experience). Our customers are only huge multinationals. A few of these are Asian run organisations. They alone squeeze us financially as a business beyond belief.

On a personal level I get on well with people here, whatever level in the organisation, colour, creed, etc. But, when it comes to being an employee, it is not that much fun when you are trying to get your fundamental rights.

OP posts:
sister · 05/09/2002 15:42

I have no experience of family businesses. Just thought if I run a business I'd not want to waste any money. I hope I'd be fair to my employees though. I hope you get somewhere soon although I've got a feeling you are not going to get anywhere fast. Good luck.

Original poster
nics1stbaby · 05/09/2002 15:55

Thank you Sister... for support and bringing us back to why I started the thread!

I don't want to take on the world. I'm just sharing my experience.

p.s. I was tempted to say just 'family run business' in my original email for fear of getting grief, but that just isn't my actual experience. I have worked in a family run business before and I was treated marvellously.

OP posts:
justiner · 05/09/2002 15:56

Hi all,
I'm afraid we've have to delete certain messages from this thread because they are racist. We try to intervene in discussions as little as possible but please be aware that we will not tolerate racist comments on the mumsnet boards.
Justine, Carrie and Rachel

SofiaAmes · 05/09/2002 21:36

nics1stbaby, seems to me that the people you work for are pretty smart people. According to you they try to get a good deal on all their purchasing and only hire or deal with people they know and trust. Hmmm. When I ran small businesses I did my best to do the same. I wasn't always lucky enough to be able to hire people I knew, but given the choice of hiring my husband or an equally competent stranger, I know who I would hire.....
I would never knowingly pay more for something than I had to unless I had a good personal or business reason to do so. This has nothing to do with my race (which isn't asian), it has to do with an attitude towards hard work, survival and and life. If you think your employers are "mean and penny pinching" for wanting to run a lean efficient business, I would suggest that you are working in the wrong place. And perhaps it is your racist and snobbish attitude towards them that is dictating their lack of interest in "putting themselves out for you" and/or "paying you additional maternity pay."
And by the way, I am 37 weeks pregnant and have only just managed to get my space cadet boss (whom i adore) to get his accountant to figure out my maternity payrate. And I am receiving the minimum statutory rate and wouldn't dream of asking my boss for more as I know that his small company couldn't afford any more.

sister · 06/09/2002 08:50

SofiaAmes, probably not a good idea to comment when you haven't read the postings that have been deleted.

Croppy · 06/09/2002 09:46

WEll I had the misfortune to read them and I think she is spot on.