Maternity pay question: am i allowed..

surreysaver

Oh yeah, I've found it now. Basically removing the distinction between Ordinary and Additional Maternity Leave.

I just wish that instead of concentrating on improving rights for women, they should be thinking about equality! Men still have to have had to work for their employer for the duration of the pregnancy to get Paternity Leave - women are entitled to maternity leave regardless. Women are entitled to a year off - a man cannot take any of this year off if the woman goes back to work. It just basically reinforces the old-fashoined belief that childcare is women's work.

Rant over.

gordonstights

surreysaver wrote: »

Oh yeah, I've found it now. Basically removing the distinction between Ordinary and Additional Maternity Leave.

I just wish that instead of concentrating on improving rights for women, they should be thinking about equality! Men still have to have had to work for their employer for the duration of the pregnancy to get Paternity Leave - women are entitled to maternity leave regardless. Women are entitled to a year off - a man cannot take any of this year off if the woman goes back to work. It just basically reinforces the old-fashoined belief that childcare is women's work.

Rant over.

My other half is a bit peeved that he will only get 2 weeks paid leave early next year when I give birth and I think that's generous compared to what most employers offer men unfortunately.

Floxxie

For both SMP and MA you can do 10 days of work - they are called 'keeping in touch days'. Even if you work only an hour for one day, that is considered a days worth.

With SMP though you can do unlimited self-employed work if you choose.

Details can be found on www.direct.gov.uk

There is leave for either parent called 'parental leave' which is available if you have worked for your employer for a year. You can take 13 weeks off in total up to a childs 5th birthday. Additional rules are there if you have a disabled child. Of course it is unpaid so there's not many of us who could afford to take it.

Likewise if a man could take paternity leave up to a year there aren't many families that could cope on the maternity pay rate. Many woman take a serious drop in pay if they are on SMP or MA so not all can afford to take that year off.

Details of the various options are on the site referred to above.

HTH

Floxxie

surreysaver

Floxxie wrote: »

Likewise if a man could take paternity leave up to a year there aren't many families that could cope on the maternity pay rate. Many woman take a serious drop in pay if they are on SMP or MA so not all can afford to take that year off.
Floxxie

But if the man could take the year instead of the woman, and the woman earnt more than the man (which in a lot of younger couples these days is the case), then babies would not have to be 'dumped' (for want of a better expression) in a nursery at two months old.

ButtonF1Fan

surreysaver wrote: »

You cannot work whilst on Maternity Leave - it would be benefit fraud. Same as claiming Unemployment Benefit whilst working. You are being paid to stay at home and look after your baby - not to take on an additional job!

Excuse Me??
Benifit fraud? I'm not on a benifit actually, i'm on PAY, statory maternity pay. I'd appreciate you not trying to preach to me actually. I asked a valid question.

And stated why i was looking for something like avon as an option. For your information pal, I cant go back to work at my normal job yet. nurseries wont take my son under 6months old AND i breastfeed him. i'm not on maternity leave as a government benifit- i'm on maternity leave to be with my baby, that doesnt mean i should have to borrow money from family, as i currently am having too.

Part time work, like delivering catalouges or similar would be WITH MY BABY and paid less than minium wage i bet, but i dont want to sit on my butt and watch my hubby work himself to death. Is that alright with you? my mortgage doesnt go away becuase i've had a baby, infact, it got bigger, i'm with northern rock.

I'm not some sexist woman, but my hubby CAN NOT breastfeed our son, can he? and he actually earns 3 times what i do, so would be stupid for him to take long off of work. and that was his CHOICE, he's got leave entitlement, but he's drop to smp rates too, although they call it spp for dads, its still low low money, just the same. We struggle normally becuase of debts and mortgage, not that its any of your concern. But you have really annoyed me, with your attitude, assuming i'm a benifit cheat. Which i most certainly am not!!


To everyone else, thanks for your advise.

MrsTinks

*cough* I think you misread surreysavers comment... They were pointing out the facts NOT calling you a benefit fraud.
In fact if anything then their subsequent posts indicate they are (well now I'm guessing WERE) on your side...

MrsTinks

As for paternity/maternity leave then in Denmark EITHER parent can take the leave in the first yet depending on what your circumstances are. So if the mum has say 3 months and the dad 3 months that's perfectly allowable Great... so NOW I finally find a reason for living in Denmark - it's taken me 28 years!!! :rotfl:

ButtonF1Fan

Hiya MrsTine,

Denmark have the right idea. That would be good to have in England

MrsTinks

They sure do... although I am guessing we might object to the 52% income tax and 200% sales tax on cars And no I'm not making that up...
amazingly VAT (moms in Denmark) is higher too Oh and dentist etc aren't cheap like here where they are paid for by NHS unless you go private...
You win some you loose some

ButtonF1Fan

OK, you just put me off Denmark LOL