Is it worth my wife going back to work for 3 months after maternity leave?

LittleMoog

BaconandEggs wrote: »

Where is the best place to find this info? In her contract - or speaking to someone in HR?

She should request a copy of the maternity policy from HR, which will explain any enhanced maternity pay entitlements, and any conditions attached. It may be available on the company internal website etc if they're a large company.

BaconandEggs

LittleMoog wrote: »

Another point to consider is that if your wife is going back part time, at some point during the year her pay may alter to reflect this. EG, my maternity package is full pay for 9 months, but if I plan to return part time, at 6 months it drops to my new salary. If I don't return for 6 months after maternity leave, I have to repay everything over the level of SMP.

Do you/ when do you have to inform them of your intentions on returning to work/not returning and whether this will be PT of FT?

LittleMoog

BaconandEggs wrote: »

Do you/ when do you have to inform them of your intentions on returning to work/not returning and whether this will be PT of FT?

I have to let them know in advance if I want to change my conditions (ie go part time). If I don't tell them anything, I'm expected to return to work after a year of ML, I have to give 4 weeks notice of any changes to this. edit: this should all be detailed in her company's maternity policy, it's very clearly spelled out in mine.

I'm currently intending to return full time for the first 6 months and see how I get on with it, as I'll have a full year's holiday allowance to take between August and December so will be effectively part time for the first few months I expect! If after beanie arrives I decide to go part time, I'll tell them before the 6 months to avoid having to repay any EMP.

BaconandEggs

LittleMoog wrote: »

She should request a copy of the maternity policy from HR, which will explain any enhanced maternity pay entitlements, and any conditions attached. It may be available on the company internal website etc if they're a large company.

She is an NHS worker.

I wonder how universal their policies are?

I will look into this. Thanks.

daisiegg

BaconandEggs wrote: »

Thanks for your reply daisiegg.

I wonder if going back on a part time basis effectively means that you need to do more than 12 weeks to be entitled to this "extra" maternity pay?

Pregnant again so soon after the first baby? I've known this to happen to one couple who I know. I suppose it depends on how the first pregnancy goes - but doesn't your body need time to recover?

The people I work with didn't come back full time for 12 weeks, part time for 12 weeks seemed to do it.

And yes they were pregnant again but they had taken a full year maternity leave for first child so there was quite a while between babies!

In fact it was just announced at my work yesterday that a lady who is currently on maternity leave...is pregnant! and will be returning for a month or something before going back off on maternity leave. Crazy.

BaconandEggs

daisiegg wrote: »

The people I work with didn't come back full time for 12 weeks, part time for 12 weeks seemed to do it.

And yes they were pregnant again but they had taken a full year maternity leave for first child so there was quite a while between babies!

In fact it was just announced at my work yesterday that a lady who is currently on maternity leave...is pregnant! and will be returning for a month or something before going back off on maternity leave. Crazy.

It does indeed sound crazy, although thinking about it, will she not receive much more maternity pay for 2 pregnancies as opposed to decent maternity pay for one and just SMP for the other? Seems pretty smart to me.

GobbledyGook

For me it was 3 calendar months. Also I had a full years worth of holidays to use as well which I actually used to buffer my drop in hours (for the first month I got paid for my previous 5 day week as I used 4 days holiday).

If you are considering a second child then check the policy on that as well. At my work we had to be back at work for 1 full year before we were entitled to the enhanced package again.

Contact HR and ask for a full copy of the maternity policy. Having had a look online though 2 NHS places have the same policy so it may be standard...

4.0 Continuous NHS Service of 52 weeks or more at the 11th week before expected date of childbirth:-

4.1 Intending to return
Up to 52 weeks maternity leave:- comprising of Occupational Maternity Pay (OMP) of 8 weeks full pay, followed by 18 weeks half pay plus basic SMP, followed by 13 weeks of basic SMP. Up to 13 weeks additional maternity leave (AML), which is unpaid can then be taken.

4.2 SMP at the basic rate will be added to the half pay, but the total maternity pay received will be no greater than normal full pay.

4.3 OMP is conditional upon the member of staff returning to work for three months with the Trust or other NHS body. The member of staff will be required to repay the difference between SMP and OMP if this condition is not met.

So if this is standard the difference would be -
8 weeks full + 18 weeks half pay plus SMP + 13 weeks SMP compared to
6 weeks 90% pay + 33 weeks SMP

Quite a difference potentially...

BaconandEggs

Thanks GoggledyGook for taking the time to look that up.
I suspect it will be the same or similar for our NHS trust, although the Agenda for Change may have confused things somewhat.

It looks like there could potentially be quite a large difference. Certainly not worth ruling it out for the sake of what could be 12 weeks.

It would make a world of difference at a time that our combined income could be dropping to a level much lower than we have been used to.

BaconandEggs

This is quite useful:
http://www.nuh.nhs.uk/working/childcare/maternity-leave.aspx

No I need to find out how much a nursery charges per day.... I'm guessing it's a lot.

GobbledyGook

Google a few nurseries in your area as some will have prices on their website. Here the average seems to be around £36 a day.

Don't rule out a childminder without meeting a few as well. They can be cheaper and, in my experience, often more flexible. Especially if there could be shift work involved.