Maternity leave

[emmanash91]

Hi I have been on maternity leave since the 19/3/18
On Friday I received a letter informing me of a 3% pay rise starting 1st of April at the bottom of my letter it was telling me about changes to the maternity policy starting 1/4/18 that instead of getting 90% of wages for 6 weeks it's now 12 weeks.
I emailed payroll to ask if I would be entitled to this longer run on and if they would be backdating the money. But they have said I am not entitled as started maternity leave before the 1st of April (13 days before!) I was not informed of any changes to the policy before I started my maternity leave if I was infromed I would have waited 2 more weeks and started my leave after the 1st.
Seeing as I was still receiving my 90% wage when the policy changed AIBU to expect to be included in the extended run on period?
I would not expect to be included in any change if I had gone past my 90% wages window at the time of the change.
I just think it's a little unfair?

It's frustrating. It's not unfair as such, because they've got an effective date for the new policy, which they've obviously tied in with salary reviews and presumably the financial year, so there is logic, and they obviously need to draw the line somewhere.

But it does feel particularly harsh on you as you missed the deadline so closely. It's probably worth speaking to your line manager and asking him/her whether there's anything they can do/anyone they can talk to, given it was so close.

Thank you for your reply.
I really wanted an impartial opinion obviously my friends and family think it's outrageous 😂
I will just give them an email see what they say.
I think the part that annoys me the most is the fact they didn't let me know about a potential change beforehand.

From the alabaster ruling you're entitled to the uplift for statutory period.

So what this means is that for the 6 weeks at 90% which is mandated by law (subject to earnings) you will be entitled to 90% of the new salary. So make sure you get this backdated in your next pay - there is bound to be someone along in a minute that can explain alabaster better than I have done, alternatively google it and there'll be something about it. In my experience not all payroll/HR depts realise this.

However, for any new policy there has to be a cut off and 1 April makes sense. With anything therefore there will be winners and losers. Its always shit to be the one this negatively impacts. I am sorry.

The problem is that if they backdate it for you they would be setting a precedent, they'd then need to do it for everyone.

Could be worse, I know someone that resigned a few weeks before redundancies were announced. He "lost" thousands.

(* Backdate the maternity change - I agree that you should receive the salary uplift.)

You haven't lost anything - you are getting what you expected not a penny less. There has to be a cut off for the new terms - if you get the new deal then why not the woman who went off 2 weeks earlier - and two weeks before that? It's not even unlucky though as such but not having achieved an unexpected windfall. It's like being annoyed at not having won the lottery - not reasonable.

Thank you all for your replies.
My mother who works in the same company has already received her backdated pay increase, I have not so will be something I may have to chase up.

Imchlilbob- I do understand I haven't lost out and had I already had my 6 weeks at 90% at the time of the change i wouldn't be bothered about it, but the fact I was still receiving the 90% which they stopped for me around the 23/4/18 yet other women who happend to start mat leave 2 weeks later get it carried on for another 6 weeks. Is a bit unfair. I didn't say I was the only women expecting to get the new deal, I feel every women who was still in the 90% period of there maternity wage when the policy changed should be entitled to the extended period.

Get in contact with maternity action and pregnant then screwed to double check. They're have some great information online and are really helpful x

It’s does seem unfair but they have to have cut off dates.

I will start mat leave in November, in the following April, when I will still be on leave, my company are increasing full maternity pay by another 4 weeks. I’m gutted but realise there’s not much I can do about it.

Although at least my company is making the changes well in advance, so if I were due to start maternity leave just before April I could have had the opportunity to delay it.