New job maternity policy

[helen915]

I’ve just been offered a new job, they have sent me through all the documents, but nothing on parental leave or maternity. I’m not planning another baby for a few years, but I’d like to be prepared for this if I were to stay within the company so want to know up front. I’ve asked the HR contact there and she said they don’t share policies to external candidates prior to their start date, but could help with questions. Is there a way to ask, without being obvious that I could potentially go on maternity within 2 years. Thank you

Could you ask if they offer enhanced leave/pay after a certain length of employment and if so after what number of months/years does it start.

Thank you for your reply, I'm just worried they'll think I'm going to leave for maternity soon and retract the offer

I would be really wary of any employer unwilling to share policies around your rights until after you have started at the organisation.

Have you info around sick leave and holiday pay?

I’ve never known an employer share this in advance.

It’s a bit odd to expect anyone to sign a contract when they don’t have the full information.

Do you know anyone else who works there or has in the past?

They should absolutely share this with you as it's part of your remuneration package and could make a difference to whether you or anyone else wants to work there.
Have you goggles them to see if it's online anywhere? Or look them up on LinkedIn and see if you can find anything there?

If they are not volunteering it as an incentive assume Statutory.

Yes there's nothing online. How would you recommend I ask? Feels very awkward but also like you say should be aware before I sign the contract

They might not be willing to share the policy document but they should clarify the entitlement if you ask.

What @LIZS said.

New job recently, they were very quiet about it all until I explicitly asked for all HR policies. Unfortunately it's only statutory Mat pay.

That would be illegal and you could sue the pants off them.

I think if I were going to ask I would frame it as a question around all their leave policies, eg. "Do you offer any enhanced benefits around leave such as for sickness and maternity, or is it statutory only?"
They should be open to telling you this, as it would form part of your contract so you'll know the answer before you sign anyway!

@BarkerBump has the right approach. I would ask if all family friendly policies e.g. paternity, Shared Parental, adoption and maternity are statutory pay or occupational and if occupational the qualifying period.

Personally I’ve always shared policies if requested, pregnancy is a fact of life for employers and they need to accept that.

I'd just send a really long list of questions, and chase a comprehensive answer to every single question. Like I would literally go through every package I could find online and write detailed questions about every benefit/restriction they might possibly offer.

Thank you that's really helpful. In hindsight I should have asked in this manner and I didn't, but I've not heard back from them since so I do wonder why they've gone quiet!