Negotiating Maternity Pay

[RedRobin100]

Has anyone had experience of negotiating in some form of paid maternity leave in a new job when you know you won’t be eligible for SMP or Company MP due to start date/due date?

I applied for a new job back at the end of April. The company has taken SO LONG to process the role, but I finally was able to accept an offer at the end of July. Since then, more delays and I am still waiting on contract to be sent to me to review/sign.

Found out I’m pregnant at the weekend just passed - 4 weeks - so figuring a due date late April.
If I take the new role, which I still want to do, I won’t be eligible for any form of SMP or company enhanced MP (which would be decent) because I won’t have worked there the requisite number of weeks.

I got in touch with my HR contact yesterday and told her I was pregnant. Thought best to let them know as early as possible given the circumstances and asked about maternity policy etc.

Has anyone tried/had success of negotiating in some paid leave despite this? Maybe with provisos, like time limited / reduced amount / repaid if I leave within x time after or the like..?

Any insight or advice would be much appreciated.

Will you get maternity allowance?

To add for context, the company is a very large UK entity with a comprehensive and good mat policy.

It's extremely unlikely an organisation with a policy on who is eligible for mat pay and who isn't, would just ignore that policy and pay it anyone who asked. What would the point of the policy be?

Highly unlikely. If they give allowance in one policy it will be queries for others.

Congratulations on your pregnancy

@PeonyTime I assume so? I haven’t looked into it yet but my husband is confident I would. Are there eligibility requirements?

No, you can't negotiate maternity pay because its calculated based on how long you have been working for the company beforehand. You need to have been with the company for 26 weeks to qualify.

Maternity pay is government based and not from your employer directly. The policy won't change just because you started late.

You can apply for maternity allowance once you are 26 weeks pregnant.

Link below
www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance

Thanks for your early answers. I agree with them! But am clutching at straws just perhaps - in a don’t ask don’t get kind of way. Am already feeling a tiny bit burned by the recruitment process for other reasons.

When do you start? If you are only 4 weeks pregnant you might be OK. How many weeks do you need to have worked there to qualify?

@1990b is it not 26 weeks + 15 weeks (15 weeks before due date week being the “Qualifying Week”)?

@1990b and are you not talking specifically about SMP, rather than company/enchanted MP?

Yes, MA has a couple of requirements - mainly that you have worked ???26 of the last 66 weeks???? with a pretty low minimium earnings threshold.

I'd think you would have minimal luck with a big company and a well structured leave policy. Sorry.

@sleepyhoglet my understanding is 26+15 weeks
I also will have my notice period to work (still to be negotiated!)

Unless your experience and role are particularly niche or senior I'm not sure what is in it for the employer to take you on for six months then pay you for a year off with no guarantee of your return. They cannot withdraw the job offer or discriminate against you but nor can you expect them to go above and beyond.

If you still want the role I would focus on getting and signing the contract ASAP now you’ve told them you’re pregnant.

The criteria for their own maternity pay will be entirely dependent on their own policy. Some companies require x years service beforehand, some require x time period afterwards. Especially if they are a large corporation, they will have policies for everything and these are unlikely to be flexible but it's always worth asking, especially given you have made them aware of your situation.

@LIZS

Unless your experience and role are particularly niche or senior I'm not sure what is in it for the employer to take you on for six months then pay you for a year off with no guarantee of your return. They cannot withdraw the job offer or discriminate against you but nor can you expect them to go above and beyond.

This. Although they can't say anything they're probably annoyed with the situation as it is - I'm not saying you've done anything wrong btw before I get jumped on but in the real world it is shit to hire someone to know you're going to have to hire someone else in 9 months time when you go on ML. I can't see why they would offer any enhanced pay when they don't have to.

You’re not really in any position to negotiate- you’re not able to offer them anything!

Its 26 weeks and you can start it 11 weeks before baby is due.

I have to say I would be pretty annoyed if you came to me asking for special consideration because.....

Congratulations on the pregnancy but honestly this would be mighty irritating to the company and then you ask for maternity pay!

Bugger. Do you need the maternity leave or can DH take time?

Thanks all.

Just to clarify, I originally applied for a different role - they created this new role for me.
It’s a skilled role and I have years behind me at one previous firm.
I never suggested taking a year off - or not returning after mat leave - that’s why I wondered about provisos like time limiting leave/pay or repaying should I leave with x time after.

I’m also not concerned that they will rescind the offer just because I’m pregnant. I would hope, and am confident, that a reasonable employer would look at a good candidate as a long term investment - not just a pregnant lady.

Totally appreciate as a large corporation they are unlikely to stray away from their policy. I guess I Was just wondering in case anyone else had managed it and how they went about it if so.

@sleepyhoglet something to look into for sure! DH own role not easily filled in his absence however.
It would def be a short mat leave anyways, and there is Mat Allowance I know.

Regardless of the pay, you're entitled to 52 weeks leave.

For you can afford it, take it all. No one will praise you for taking less. No one will roll out the banners when you return after 3 months, or 6, or 9 or 12.

Honestly, you don't get anything extra for sacrificing that time to mentally or physically recover.

I doubt any company would stray from their policy for enhanced maternity pay qualification.

Congrats on your pregnancy, but from their perspective, it's really unlikely they're thrilled that you'll be joining the company during your second trimester.

As you've not resigned yet could you reject the offer and see what the situation is like in 18 months?