Putting the case for more than SMP - any HR or employement law types?

[MissMitford]

Hello everyone

I'm 24 weeks pg at the moment and need to have the maternity leave/pay conversation with my employers quite soon. I work for a smallish TV company and my bosses are all gay men, which means that they've no first hand knowledge of maternity policy etc.

So, I'm entitled to SMP, but naturally I want to see if i can get a better deal. I'd like to know if there's any financial incentive or information that I can tell them about (there's no inhouse HR) - ie if they paid me for 16 weeks, they could claim x% back through NIC contributions. I've found someone to replace me when I'm away too - so any info about how THEIR salary would be affected...

Basically... any ammo to have the 'I think you should pay me more!' conversation would be much appreciated. I've worked out the 'soft sell' and guilt trip, but anything about the bottom line would be ace!

Thanks so much...

None I'm afraid. There's no financial incentive for businesses to pay more than SMP.

Have you got information about what comparable companies pay? Other smallish media-type organisations?

Benefits for them would really only be along the lines of motivating employees, making it easier to attract people when recruiting, that kind of thing, which I'm sure you've got. So information about competitors is always handy - presumably they make a decision about where in the marketplace they want to place themselves in terms of salaries offered, well benefits including extra maternity benefit would also come into that.

Sorry that's not more helpful..

Damn... well it was a faint hope anyway. Yes, have got info about competitors and comparable offers, so will go in hard on that line. thanks flowerybeanbag!

You could suggest extra with an agreement that you'd pay it back if you DIDN'T return.

It might plant a seed of worry in their minds, that not returning if they are not nice to you is a possibility!

Lots of companies do this! (sadly not mine)

Good point... god how to find the balance between threats and cajoling...

good practice for parenthood methinks!