Maternity

jodiefox

Hi All

Just need some advice really. I have recently been given my expected maternity pay at work information and I am shocked to learn they only offer SMP to administration workers. However, I have since learned that our physio's who work for us are offered a much better package. How can they offer two pay scales for maternity pay dependent upon role? Is this legal? It's definitely not fair. :mad:

I would be grateful for any advice as at the moment I am panicking how we are going to keep our house going on such reduced money...the statutory is less than 1/2 of my normal salary:eek::(

skintandscared_2

This is totally legal. At our law firm, the fee earners are offered a much more attractive maternity package than the support staff. At the end of the day, the fee earners are the ones who have had more invested in them, and who are far more valuable to the firm.

The best advice is to save like mad before you get pregnant so you have some extra aside to tide you through the SMP months. Of course you will get child benefit once the baby is born, so that's something extra.

DaisyFlower

As long as they pay the legal minimum, they can offer what they like on top with no obligation to provide the same to all roles.

SMP info is freely available on the net and many set aside money whilst trying to conceive and whilst pregnant to cover the shortfall against wages. Im always surprised how many have no idea re finances when embarking on such a lifestyle change.

jodiefox

This pregnancy was totally unexpected. We were told 2 yearsago that we probably wouldn't be able to conceive naturally and would have to embarkon expensive IVF should we want to proceed in expanding our family. So no, Iwasn't naïve when it came to finances, I just didn't have time to plan DaisyFlower.

SueC_2

Providing they are meeting their statutory SMP requirements, the diffence in package is no different to the Physios receiving a different rate of pay than you.

Acc72

jodiefox wrote: »

I am shocked to learn they only offer SMP to administration workers.

That is not correct - all grades are entitled to SMP (Statutory Maternity Pay - note the word Statutory).

Your employer must pay this as a minimum, but just like pay they can pay some more than this if they choose to do so.

KiKi

I just wanted to say congratulations - after being told you'd have to go through IVF this must be a lovely and wonderful surprise.

Enjoy your new baby - as long as you have enough to feed, house and clothe, a bit of frugality for a few months will go by very quickly. You'll be back at work and earning again before you know it.

KiKi

KiKi

Acc72 wrote: »

That is not correct - all grades are entitled to SMP (Statutory Maternity Pay - note the word Statutory).

Your employer must pay this as a minimum, but just like pay they can pay some more than this if they choose to do so.

I think the OP means they 'offer only SMP' rather than 'only offer SMP' - but that was apparent from the rest of her post anyway.

SueC_2

Acc72 wrote: »

That is not correct - all grades are entitled to SMP (Statutory Maternity Pay - note the word Statutory).

Your employer must pay this as a minimum, but just like pay they can pay some more than this if they choose to do so.

I think OP meant that the maternity package for administration workers is limited to SMP, but for other grades is given at an enhanced rate - ie. other grades get more than SMP, but she doesn't.

EDIT: cross-posted with KiKi.

pinkshoes

jodiefox wrote: »

This pregnancy was totally unexpected. We were told 2 yearsago that we probably wouldn't be able to conceive naturally and would have to embarkon expensive IVF should we want to proceed in expanding our family. So no, Iwasn't naïve when it came to finances, I just didn't have time to plan DaisyFlower.

Why not think of it as the money you have saved not having to pay for IVF, rather than only getting SMP? (as if you'd had IVF, and then just got SMP, you would have been even poorer!)

ems2

Hi I am in this situation too however it is someone on the same level as me, does this make a difference to the above advice, can it really be legal to have a case of "if a company likes her more then me they will pay her more"?