maternity leave help!- average pay query

boltonangel

hi

i have worked for my employer since late last jan on a full time basis until sept when i went part time (p/t earnings £13800p/a).
in June I became pregnant and in late sept/oct i was signed off work with stress, until this months payday (20th) i was receiving my full pay (even though i don't think i was entitled as the sickness benefits are not very good, but i do have a very nice area manager).
however this month i only received £173net and rang to query this and was told that it was because i was on sick pay and my mat leave doesn't start until 01/02/08 - now this was a shock to me as i wrote to my area manager requesting that my mat leave officially start at wk 29 (earliest it can, as i didn't want to take the p*ss out of the co. completely) and i am now 33wks.

i am fine with it starting in 01/02/08 because it's swings and roundabouts in a way, it just means i get longer at home with baby. however i am concerned that my maternity pay will be reduced because of the delay as it is 90% of weekly earnings etc (basic government one). Will they include this really low earning month as part of my average earnings, or do they calculate my actual salary before sick leave deductions?

sorry for all the q's and if it doesn't make sense pls let me know how to clarify. i know the simplest thing to do would be contact work, but i am off with stress caused by being there and don't really want to contact them if poss, plus the payroll dept is based in India, and they don't really understand what i am trying to ask.

Gazella77

Just one thing that struck me - from what I know you are supposed to inform about your maternity leave plans both a manager and HR. Anyway, that's what I had to do.
Check with him if he informed HR.

Sorry can't help you with anything else.

chrisbur

The time that your maternity leave starts will not affect the amount of maternity pay that you get. The average is based on the weeks running up to the qualifying week which is fifteen weeks before the week the baby is due. This figure may have to be recalculated later due to the Alabaster case ruling. Details below from the DWP website.



http://www.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent/benefits/statutory_maternity_pay.asp

"Your employer will look at your gross earnings paid to you in a set period. This is usually the eight week period up to and including the 15th week before your expected week of childbirth. The period your employer uses may vary depending on how often you are paid – weekly, monthly or other intervals.
As a result of a judgement by the European Court of Justice, if your employer awards a pay rise which is effective at any time from the start of the set period used to work out your SMP and the end of your maternity leave your employer must work out your SMP again and pay you any balance due to you. For more information about this judgement and its impact on your SMP see some questions and answers about the ECJ Judgment."

Savvy_Sue

Gazella77 wrote: »

Just one thing that struck me - from what I know you are supposed to inform about your maternity leave plans both a manager and HR. Anyway, that's what I had to do.
Check with him if he informed HR.

Did you put it in writing? and did you keep a copy? I'm sure it has to be in writing.