Qualifying periods for enhanced maternity pay

[Cosmogirl]

Hello,

Just started a new job and went to see HR dept re: employee handbook because want to find out about the enhanced maternity leave qualifying period. DH and I would like to try for our first sometime in the near future we hope.
However, HR said the book was being updated and wasn't available and I didn't fancy blurting out which policy I was especially interested in for obvious reasons....
My hope is that the qualifying period will be a year or less before you leave for maternity....does that sound about right or do companies have 2/3 year schemes? I know I am jumping the gun here but really wanted to know so that we could plan etc... so am a bit I didn't get to find out....

The one thing I do know is the EMP is 3 months full, 3 months half, 3 SMP.

varies company to company cosmo, you'd have to ask. Any reason you feel you couldn't ask HR??

I cant imagine it being less than a year, 2 sounds reasonable if they are topping up the pay.

I think 2 years or above a certain grade is pretty standard

Thanks for the responses.
Flowery - I know I probably shouldn't but I wouldn't want to speak to HR about it in case they told my boss. I've only just started working there so to be asking about maternity so soon seems a bit wrong somehow, but the thing was, before I got the job I has been thinking about the baby thing for around 6 months.
I'm hoping it is a year, but will just have to wait and see if they issue copies of the handbook. The HR lady did say they would post it on the intranet, so here's hoping they do.