MSE Pregnancy Club 24

savageHK

Right, another question for you lovely ladies. We have apparently been invited to a wedding 'in October' in Poland. (Mr SHK has the invite, which I've not seen yet, and he can't remember when in October!). My EDD is 26/11 (although I still think it's 30/11).
I don't want to fly so it's overnight trains at about 24 hours total transit on the trains, we did a similar thing last year although turned it into more of a tour of Europe (Berlin, Prague etc) and the trains are fine.
Would you go? What's the latest you'd travel overseas before EDD?

twinklie

Ah right ok. My work call it something different. That's ok then, I know about it already - phew. I have to work for 13 weeks upon my return to not pay back the extra they give me. I'm happy with that though, I have no intention of leaving.
I'm looking into reducing my hours though.

moneypuddle

savageHK wrote: »

Right, another question for you lovely ladies. We have apparently been invited to a wedding 'in October' in Poland. (Mr SHK has the invite, which I've not seen yet, and he can't remember when in October!). My EDD is 26/11 (although I still think it's 30/11).
I don't want to fly so it's overnight trains at about 24 hours total transit on the trains, we did a similar thing last year although turned it into more of a tour of Europe (Berlin, Prague etc) and the trains are fine.
Would you go? What's the latest you'd travel overseas before EDD?

Personally .. no. I'm flying to Ireland at 30 weeks and I reckon thats my limit. Only a 45 min flight!

moneypuddle

Teerah wrote: »

Just a quick post to say my surprise bundle turned into a gorgeous little pink one, baby Éabha born at home (successful HBAC! Yay!) on 25th May, 8lb1

Well done Teerah!

I'm not ready to be 62nd on the list!!

LittleMoog

MummyOfTwo wrote: »

im glad this subject came up!

my contract (which was merged and then TUPE'd) gives me the first 15 weeks at what they call OMP (ordinary maternity pay) then onto SMP. nothing about it in my contract, it was brought to my attention during the TUPE in April this year, and nothing about having to pay it back - any thoughts? is it standard to have to pay back anything over and above SMP?

fluffnutter wrote: »

Not standard, no. But your company might impose conditions regarding returning to work. For example, they might ask you to repay anything they've given if you decide not to return, or return and immediately hand in your notice.

They can't ask for SMP back.

With any enhanced maternity pay there's usually a clause about returning to work for a set period after your maternity leave. Mine's 6 months. My company says that's because EMP is aimed at encouraging women to return to work, so if you leave before the 6 months the whole difference between SMP and EMP is repayable. It should be clearly spelled out in your company's maternity policy, which should be available from HR (or on company intranet if you're a big company) In my case if I decide to return on part time hours I have to repay any EMP I received based on my full time wage after 26 weeks of maternity leave as it should have been pro-rated for my new salary on return. Our maternity leave is exceptionally generous though (9 months full pay) so it's not surprising there are strict conditions around it!

MummyOfTwo

fluffnutter wrote: »

Not standard, no. But your company might impose conditions regarding returning to work. For example, they might ask you to repay anything they've given if you decide not to return, or return and immediately hand in your notice.

They can't ask for SMP back.

ah swish, thanks for that. ive scoured my orginal contract and theres nothing at all in there. my new employers seem pretty sound and they have a dedicated person who deals with maternity leave, apparently they will also work out your full entitlement and divide over the period of time you are taking off work so you arent having the drops in income throughout. i am on leave this week (typing from the rain-soaked isle of arran right now!) but im hoping to have an email from HR when i am back in next week.

RebekahR

BB1984 wrote: »

How do you work that one out? Surely enhanced is anything over and above SMP?

BB x

I wish! The package they are offering me is 6 weeks full - 10 half pay - OML for 23 weeks and then the 13 weeks unpaid AML.

As I work part time the 10 weeks half pay would have me at less than the statutory.

RebekahR

MummyOfTwo wrote: »

im glad this subject came up!

my contract (which was merged and then TUPE'd) gives me the first 15 weeks at what they call OMP (ordinary maternity pay) then onto SMP. nothing about it in my contract, it was brought to my attention during the TUPE in April this year, and nothing about having to pay it back - any thoughts? is it standard to have to pay back anything over and above SMP?

This is the situation I was in. TUPED in March. (Do you work for a company from home by any chance? ...) I think it would work in the favour of fulltimers as an enhanced package but as I only work 20 hours a week the bit about half pay for 10 weeks would have me down by £434!:eek:

RebekahR

Kitten_Pie wrote: »

Not sure MummyofTwo I have never worked for a company that give employees more than the legal minimum.

When you tell your employers they have to give you all the information within 28 days so that you can work out your plans.

Or in the case of my employers ignore my letter of notice given back in March and actually arrange the HR meeting with me on the very day I left (If you call a 4 minute phone call a "meeting" ...

fluffnutter

RebekahR wrote: »

I wish! The package they are ofwfering me is 6 weeks full - 10 half pay - OML for 23 weeks and then the 13 weeks unpaid AML.

As I work part time the 10 weeks half pay would have me at less than the statutory.

After 6 weeks your employer must pay you either £134.45 or 90% of your weekly earnings, whichever is the lowest. They must do this for the next 33 weeks (if you're still on maternity leave). After that you can have a further 13 weeks unpaid (as is the case with your package).

It might be easier to know what half pay would work out for you (if you don't mind sharing). Then I can be categorical about whether your package is within the law, or whether you should be asking for more.