New job search and trying for a baby?

Wizwoo

Hello,

I currently work for a great company and they do look after people when they're on maternity. Other half and I have talked about starting a family (we'll need to soon due to my age) for a while but wanted to clear some debt beforehand.

OH now has a new job which will involve us moving - so I'll need to find a new job. His pay alone is not enough to cover our living costs.

My question is is there a minimum period of time that you have to be working somewhere before you qualify for maternity pay? And is there a set guideline as to the minimum you should get for maternity pay?

Is there anywhere online that gives some advice on this?

Many thanks,
Wiz

do_it_today!

I think there is a minimum period of time that you have to be employed with the employer and I think will vary I know that with a certain London local authority you have to have been employed for a certain period of time (I think 3-6 months) before you reach a certain point in the pregnancy (ie 12 weeks or something) - I can only suggest asking geeves and doing a search on statutory maternity pay?

Dont qoute me on this but my understanding is that if you do qualify you get 90% of your pay for the first six weeks of maternity leave and then up to £106 per week for six months I think - I need to do abit more research myself!

I hope this helps

Wizwoo

Thanks for that - do it today (must say within the context of the question your name gave me a bit of a giggle ).

I googled statutaroy maternity pay and got the following:

That you must be - Employed by your employer into the qualifying week which is the 15th week before the week your baby is due.
Employed by the same employer without a break for at least 26 weeks into the 15th week before the week your baby is due. Part weeks count as full weeks.

So does that mean that I have to be working somewhere for 11 weeks (26 - 15) to be eligable for SMP?

Is this standard? I'm worried that some places don't stick to this.

What are other people's experiences?
Anybody else gone on maternity about 3 / 6 months after starting a new job?

squashy

Wizwoo wrote:

Employed by your employer into the qualifying week which is the 15th week before the week your baby is due.
Employed by the same employer without a break for at least 26 weeks into the 15th week before the week your baby is due. Part weeks count as full weeks.

I can help translate this as it's happened to me. 15 weeks before= about week 25 of pregnancy. Which in english means you have to actually start your cycle and fall pregnant whilst working for that employer. So have one monthly period there and then you'll qualify for SMP.

I found out I'd got pregnant in the week inbetween changing jobs so didn't qualify! In that case one would only be entitled to Maternity Allowance (about £90 a week).

A wrod of caution though, many companies offer different maternity packages and they usually have a longer qualifying period. Mine is 1 year to get the full works.

But apart from that, companies are legally obliged to pay you SMP using the rules above.

Wizwoo

squashy wrote:

A word of caution though, many companies offer different maternity packages and they usually have a longer qualifying period. Mine is 1 year to get the full works.

But apart from that, companies are legally obliged to pay you SMP using the rules above.

That's what I'm worried about. I was off sick from work once for 3 or 4 weeks and I'd only worked there about 2 or 3 months. I think I had 2 weeks off on full pay but then went on to stat sick pay which was pretty tough since I'd been out of work for 2 months before starting the job so things were stretched.

Anybody else got any experiences they can share?

kmeast

Basically you should be alright as long as you are not pregnant when you start working for the new company. I was temping for my current company and unknown to me fell pregnant 2 weeks after signing my permanent contract - I just qualified for maternity pay!

Be careful though - most companys wil not pay you if you are off sick for your 1st year of employment, so fingers crossed for a trouble free pregnancy!!

Also different employers have different maternity rights - some offer more than the basic - but I wouldn't ask the question when you go for a job interview!!:rotfl:

Mics_chick

I think it depends on what type of job you're doing / what type of company you're working for in the first place.

Most places will give you SMP - there's still a few neanderthal companies out there run by both men and women who will sack you or force you out of your job - know a few people this has happened too.

My company offered enhanced MP for additional service which complied with what was recommended by EU at the time. This was 4/5yrs ago but I think the only thing thats changed since is that basic SMP has gone up and is paid for 9mths rather than 6.

Anyway I started working for them in August 01 and worked out that if I fell pregnant in April 02 onwards I would qualify for enhanced SMP. We started trying then but it took me 4mths to fall pregnant anyway (which is quite quick I think) so I easily qualified for full MP package.

If you work for NHS I think they have much much better package than most employers. Not sure exactly what qualifying period is but 2 nurses I know have both had much better packages than mums-to-be in other professions.

donna-j_2

It's a horrible situation, and I have a baby, would like another and would also quite like a new job too, so know where you are coming from.

BUT, as a manager I would also say that changing jobs while you are planning on starting a family, while it would probably make you eligible for mat pay, would likely not do you many favours with your new employer. Recruitment, training etc is all time-consuming and expensive, so employers rightly get quite peeved when this sort of thing happens.

Good luck though. It can take ages to get pg anyway so get moved house and find a new job and don't worry about it all too much.

do_it_today!

Thanks Wizwoo my name is my little mantra to self! in most things
OMG talk about strategic planning! I want to start a family asap AND change my job AASAP!!!
Have been trying since September to no avail (which isnt long I guess) I suspect having some repro issues downstairs so have to check that out... so what I am hearing here is ideally it is best to be in a job for 7-12 months before conceiving? nature permitting I dont want to wait that long :mad: I have been in my post dor two years so could be better for me to thug it out Where I am then? but I hate it! :mad: :eek: :mad:
another question is when you do come back how long do you have to stay before quitting and the employer not requesting back the Maternity pay?

does anyone know?

thanks for starting post Wizzwoo

kmeast

another question is when you do come back how long do you have to stay before quitting and the employer not requesting back the Maternity pay?

does anyone know?

You will not have to pay back any SMP, however if your company pays you an enhanced matenity package you should check the employee handbook as to whether you would have to pay any of this back. It differs from emplyer to employer.

Good Luck!

do_it_today!

Will do KMeast
ta