Negotiations. Should I try ask about Enhanced Maternity?

[sellotape12]

this is a cross post, sorry!

I'm interviewing for a department head role after a shocking redundancy in Jan, right when we were thinking about TTC baby no.2. It felt like the rug was pulled beneath me, as now it's forced me to have to interview for new roles right on the cusp of possibly TTC (and I'm 40, so can't kick baby decisions down the road much longer ☹️ )

SO. Two companies I'm speaking with have sent their policy which is 18 months service before you can access Enhanced Maternity Pay (EMP). Otherwise - statutory.

If they offer, is it worth trying to negotiate lowering the time at which I can access their EMP, or is it way too much of a red flag?

If I don't do it - I'm leaving thousands on the table if I do get pregnant within the year.
If I do raise it in negotiations - it's a massive sign that I'm definitely thinking of trying to get pregnant ASAP.
Any thoughts or experience?

my instinct says no
if they changed if for you, they would change for all employees
It’s not like you’re negotiating salary or bonus - it’s much more specific and would have implications for all employees

I’d try and get the job you want and then work on them potentially changing the policy once you work there. But base your savings etc on only getting what they currently state.

I won’t deviate from standard policy for things like this, it sets a precedent. I will only negotiate on salary and potentially signing on bonus but then only for lost earning by resigning from previous post.

I don’t think it’s a red flag to try once they’ve offered, because by then it’s too late for them to pull the offer without it being seen as discrimination.

I do think you’re highly unlikely to get them to agree. These sorts of things are standard policies and not the sort of thing that is up for negotiation.

Okay, good to know thank you. I mean, it may be that nether company offer a job anyway! I just want to be prepared for whenever it does happen.
In my first pregnancy I could only take SMP because I got fired whilst pregnant (don’t ask) and I do remember it being quite a financial burden on DH. We were never in any kind of trouble at all but I felt very jealous of the mums in my neighbourhood all going out for fancy lunches and coffee and activities and I was counting my government money whilst DH took care of the mortgage and bills. Plus we’d have a nursery bill this time round.

If I’m honest, a lot of this for me is feeling that I have to get justice from being ‘wronged’ by the redundancy that happened in January. I would’ve been entitled to 6 months full pay. That’s a lot. And to go from the potential of that? to the potential of nothing is what’s driving me to fight. But I also don’t want to put the cat among the pigeons. Argh

Sadly my instincts would also be a no. It's shouldn't be. But it is

Maybe try and negotiate salary instead?

You're not fighting with the people who made you redundant but the people who might give you a new income. If you ask them to change the policy it will be blatant that you intend to be pregnant within 18 months, which is not going to make you more attractive than other candidates. The only person who could lose the fight is you.

18 months service for enhanced maternity pay is quite low, I know of a firm where it is five years service. I would be surprised if they would make an individual exception. However, you could always campaign to change it, although you may not benefit personally. I did this to extend childcare benefits for older children, although my DC was too old by the time it was introduced.