Maternity pay question: am i allowed..

surreysaver

Floxxie wrote: »

But this is about the only area where the law favours a working woman

But it doesn't favour women - by giving just women all these rights it actually makes it worse for them, by putting employers off them even more.

Floxxie wrote: »

I'm sure they will come the day where equality is given to men but I don't think that many will take it up.

Its not about equality for men - it is about equality full stop. Treating both sexes differently beyond their physical differences is what causes discrimination. And I think you will be suprised how many men will take it up if it ever comes into force - that is why they are dragging their heels changing the law. In young couples these days, a lot of women earn more than their partners - if the law allowed it, there would be equality.

Floxxie

Yes that's the point though isn't it? A woman is very different to a man. She has the ability of having children! And every employer (whether they admit it or not) will be thinking that a woman of child-bearing age will be leaving at some point to have children. It affects their position in the workplace. And when they go on maternity leave they are more ostracised than those who are off sick.

And why do you think the law is slow to catch up? It could probably be argued under EU law that a man is being discriminated against but the real factor that is stopping UK adopting 'paternity leave' I believe, are the businesses attitudes to those who take time off to look after children. Whenever there is a new introduction to maternity leave, for example, going from 9 months to a year, there is an outcry from the business sector about how the small businesses will go under blah blah blah. I can't say with a single pregnancy that I was made to feel happy about my situation - if anything I was made to feel guilty for putting the business under pressure with my absence.

You talk about wanting equality for all but even with maternity leave there is not equality for women. There are some who get 6/9/12 months full pay. There are others who get the standard SMP or MA and then there are those who just can't afford to stay off work for long at all. I know of several people who went back when baby was 7 weeks because of their financial situation. There are women who will say that I am lucky to be able to take the 12 months off but then I have fallen off the career ladder and I earn more being on maternity leave than I come out with when working and nursery fees have been paid.

I also haven't yet met a man who would take the time off. My OH takes a month off and that's enough for him - he takes holiday and paternity leave.

So why would you want to put yourself through it all the cr*p that goes with leave? Just to be equal?

Floxxie

surreysaver

Floxxie wrote: »

So why would you want to put yourself through it all the cr*p that goes with leave? Just to be equal?

Becuase my OH didn't want to take an extended amount of time off, thats why. I did try - but my employer just went running to their solicitors! At least I cost them a bit of money, though.

Debt_Free_Chick

If you are on maternity leave you are, strictly speaking, still employed. Most contracts require that you get permission from your employer to do other work, in addition. So you should probably seek your employer's agreement if you want to do other work - or if you don't, then at least be aware that you may be breaking the terms of your contract.

Check what your contract states.

Floxxie

surreysaver wrote: »

Becuase my OH didn't want to take an extended amount of time off, thats why. I did try - but my employer just went running to their solicitors! At least I cost them a bit of money, though.

I know that we have gone off the original OPs question but for those interested in the fight for male rights to paid paternity leave:

http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/newsandcomment/Pages/Fathersseenasoptionalseasoning.aspx

Surreysaver sorry to hear that you have experienced the small mindedness of businesses and the law in the UK. My OH asked for flexible working last year and got turned down because the world might collapse if he wasn't in work for one day a week.

Floxxie

staceydaisy

hi i am thinking of wrking so many hrs to top up my earnings for xmas i will be doing this on a self employed basis. Can any1 pls tell me the rules regarding wrking self employed what do i have to do and do i have a time span to get this registered

i have tried looking on internet but dont generally understand

4got to add i am currently in receipt of smp

Becles

You need to register as self employed with HMRC. Go on www.hmrc.gov.uk and look for the self employment pages. Read the information on there and it will tell you the number you need to register.

They will sort out your Class 2 NI if you need to pay it. You'll need to keep an accurate set of accounts and fill in a self assessment tax return after next April, where your tax and any Class 4 NI will be worked out.