HR cant "remember" what Maternity leave I'm entitled to!!??

[kat2504]

I agree emsie, it isn't "luck" it is a right that women have fought long and hard for over the years. SMP doesn't cost the employer anything, they get the money back off the government.
Women in other countries should consider these sort of things more when deciding who to vote for and put more pressure on their governments to implement better equality and more family friendly policies that enable women to have children (the country does need the next generation) and also maintain an active economic role.

 

[Gem_Clem]

The basic you are entitled to is 6 weeks at 90% then the rest at £128.73 (before tax deduction) Your company may have a maternity package that pays more than that, some people get full pay for a few weeks of months but this is the basic legal amount they have to pay. They also have to give you time off for all antenatal appts.

Heres the statement from directgov website:
If you satisfy all the conditions you will be entitled to SMP for a maximum period of 39 weeks.

The amount you get depends on your earnings. The first 6 weeks of SMP are earnings related and you will get a weekly rate equal to 90 per cent of your average weekly earnings (there is no upper limit). The remaining 33 weeks are paid at the weekly standard rate SMP of £128.73 (from 3 April 2011) or the earnings related rate if this is less than standard rate SMP.

 

[Weenie19]

Thanks everyone. I feel much better knowing my reaction isnt all down to hormones and feel EVEN better knowing I'll probably earn another 12 days off with my baby girl through AL.

I am keeping a record of everything that happens and will take it further should it continue x

You will definitely accrue annual leave over the course of your maternity leave - it's the law! If you usually accrue it at a rate of two days per month as per your contract, then this is what you will accrue whilst on maternity leave. The only thing you can't do is take your holiday part way through your maternity leave; you either take it before maternity commences, stitch it onto the end, both, or take it at some other point once you're back at work. If you choose to request part time hours when you return, if this is granted, the holiday you would have accrued would be based on full time hours so they may request you take it before you return to work to make things less complicated.

P.s I'm an HR Adviser and find the way you've been treated appalling!

Hi Yikesy,

This is brilliant - so good knowing youre in HR!

So my plan was to be off 6 months, accrue 12 days leave and take these 12 days before I return. Therefore making my Maternity leave 5 months and the final month being that accrued leave.

Does that sound possible?

I will be hounding my company for a proper meeting of course but it's nice to know my rights before I go charging in there

 

[Yikesy]

Thanks everyone. I feel much better knowing my reaction isnt all down to hormones and feel EVEN better knowing I'll probably earn another 12 days off with my baby girl through AL.

I am keeping a record of everything that happens and will take it further should it continue x

You will definitely accrue annual leave over the course of your maternity leave - it's the law! If you usually accrue it at a rate of two days per month as per your contract, then this is what you will accrue whilst on maternity leave. The only thing you can't do is take your holiday part way through your maternity leave; you either take it before maternity commences, stitch it onto the end, both, or take it at some other point once you're back at work. If you choose to request part time hours when you return, if this is granted, the holiday you would have accrued would be based on full time hours so they may request you take it before you return to work to make things less complicated.

P.s I'm an HR Adviser and find the way you've been treated appalling!

Hi Yikesy,

This is brilliant - so good knowing youre in HR!

So my plan was to be off 6 months, accrue 12 days leave and take these 12 days before I return. Therefore making my Maternity leave 5 months and the final month being that accrued leave.

Does that sound possible?

I will be hounding my company for a proper meeting of course but it's nice to know my rights before I go charging in there

Hiya,

Yes - in fact that would be the best way of doing it. You will still return from "Maternity Leave" on the same day planned so you don't need to let them know that your date has changed (even though you won't actually be back at work until after this). Just make sure you get this holiday approved the way you usually would - so if you are usually required to give a month's notice then either tell the company now that that's what you intend to do, or send them an email/make the call a month before your Maternity Leave ends. I should also mention that if, as part of your contract, you usually get paid for Bank Holidays (and don't work them, therefore making them part of your holiday entitlement), you will also accrue these as well - so for example Easter in your case. If this is the case for you, you would get an extra day that you can tag onto your annual leave for each Bank Holiday that passes whilst you are on Maternity Leave.

Hope that helps!!