Company maternity pay

[Billie1991]

Hi I wanted to ask if anyone else has been in the same position I’ve found myself in right now
I have informed my employer that I am wanting to take my maternity leave next month and have received a letter back from them telling me that I have automatically been put down as being able to have company maternity pay, but if I don’t return to work for three months then I will need to pay it’ll the difference between the statutory and the company pay back. My issue is on the form they asked me if I would be returning or not or if I was unsure, I did let them know I was undecided as I don’t know what will happen in the future. I don’t want to end up with a big bill at the end if I don’t return. What I would like to know is is it a reasonable request to ask for statutory maternity only, has anyone else ever been able to say no to the company pay and how did they go about it. I’m worried about this and don’t want to end up in debt

Gawd no just take the money and say you are coming back!

If you are worried you won’t come back or will have to pay it back then put the extra money aside! The you have it to pay back in future - or if you return to work then you can keep it and it’s bonus money!

Just because you say you will come back doesn’t mean you can’t change your mind later.

Why would you say no to it? Just take the money and if you think the chances are you won’t go back, stick it in a savings account and don’t spend it.

If you do go back and you turned down extra money you’ll be kicking yourself!

If you spend it, and don’t go back therefore have to repay it, they will accept reasonable instalments I’m sure.

They can you you if you intend to return, for resource planning purposes etc, but you are not legally required to make this decision until 8 weeks before you are due to return. (I can’t remember if this is 8 weeks before the evens of stat mat pay; 8 weeks before the end of a calendar year or something different, but you certainly don’t have to commit to it now). Take the money!

As pp said, if you can keep disciplined then stash the extra into a savings account. Get a few pence interest over the year and it gives you an emergency stash if something goes wrong.

Are you considering moving jobs or just not returning to work?
You'll accrue holidays for the year you are off (so min 28 days) plus whatever you'd get for the 3 months notice (min 5 less Bank hols, depending on your contract). So you'd only need to work maybe 6 weeks, which you could split over the 3 months to suit.

@thack is right, it’s financially silly not to take the money.

Add up how much extra you’ll get over the period then divide it by 6 weeks that you’ll have to work for it, then divid again by the hours you normally work in a week and it’ll be an enormous amount per hour.

My employer gives you the option to be paid the enhanced mat pay when you are off, or to defer it until you return, after 3 months.
But tbh with all the accrued annual leave anyone would be mad not to return for the remainder (about 6 weeks) and then resign.

Most employers give you an option of how you want the enhanced portion paid - a few women at my work requested a lump sum on returning to work that way they wouldn't have to pay it back if they were paid it as part of their normal monthly salary and then decided to quit

Take the money and as far as work goes give every impression that you are enthusiastic about returning and continuing your career. Do not admit any doubt on this. Anything otherwise will sabotage your future at this company if you do decide to return.

Privately, telling no one, arrange to put the difference between SMP and what they give you into a savings account, and don't spend it.

If you decide not to return, the money is there. If you go back then it will be a massively useful resource to help pay for nursery/childcare costs etc.