Leaving job - maternity pay

[pa2k84]

I am in a bit of a situation working as a nanny for a private family.

Took the job in July this year and was told (they are army family) they will be around for the next 2 years at least then will be looking for a house in the area.

I have now found out i am pregnant and know i have been working long enough to be entitled to maternity pay and was planning on starting leave either beginning or mid March - due mid May.

I have found out through someone else (plus had inkling myself from things children have said and things lying around the house) that they are moving end March and where they are moving too is too far for me to work.

Now i have no intention of going back to work with this family after baby is born (reguardless of if they moving or not) but i can't hand my notice in or i will not be entitled to the pay. However I kind of feel like i am making the family hold on for me and would not want to risk them not finding the right nanny in new area as they have to keep job open for me.

If i was not pregnant and they told me they were moving i would hand in my notice and i think they know this (said from beginning want to be no more than 30 min drive from where i live, currently 20 mins new house at least an hour) Infact with them moving so far away they would prob be making me redundant as job in theory no longer exisits but obviously now with me pregnant they cannot do this as would be seen as disrimination.

Sorry for long post thank you if you made it this far....

Question is what would you do! She keeps asking me if i am planning on returning and i am of course atm saying yes but she keeps making little comments about how hard it will be, fact that its such long hours etc. as i think she wants me to say i wont be coming back so she can get on find someone new and permenent for her children. Part of me feels a bit sorry for her as i understand that with being in the army children have known a lot of childcarers and she just wants them to have someone permenent and i dont want to lead her on saying i will be back knowing full right i wont be but at the same time i cant afford to hand my notice in as won't be entitled to any maternity money - who would have thought it would be soo hard!!!

 

[MrsRH]

gosh, difficult decision.
If you hand in your notice you may be entitled to maternity allowance. It's not as much as SMP but better than nothing.
I think you need to sit down with your 'boss' and be honest and them be honest with you.
good luck
xxxx

 

[pa2k84]

Yes is difficult

Not the most approchable woman will give till after Christmas and then have a chat with her about intended leaving date.

Another quickie if i say i am planning on returning to work do i have to go back or do i follow normal contract and give months notice before due to start saying i am not?

 

[suzib76]

maternity allowance is exactly the same as smp £123.06 a week

might be worth finding out from the job centre if you would qualify for that

 

[Foogirl]

She may have to keep the job open for you but there is nothing to stop her employing someone to provide maternity cover. To me this is no different to taking someone on on a trial basis. It is all likely someone who takes a maternity cover job will want to remain if she is a good employer anyway. I would perhaps suggest she does this and take it from there.

You have no obligation to tell her if you intend to return, and in fact, as your employer she has no right to ask you that. I would just tell her you can't possibly decide right now if you definitely want to returm to work once you have had a child.

The company I work for has a 2 month notice of intention to return, I think this is pretty standard (and may even be law) When the time comes I simply have to tell them whether or not I'm coming back and if I am, I will meet with my boss to discuss terms.

 

[pa2k84]

Ahh knowing nothing about maternity pay and rights myself (well have been reading but is all bit confusing) i dont want to end up agreeeing to something or being tricked into things because as she runs her own business knows a lot about rights which she likes to tell me.

 

[Foogirl]

Ahh knowing nothing about maternity pay and rights myself (well have been reading but is all bit confusing) i dont want to end up agreeeing to something or being tricked into things because as she runs her own business knows a lot about rights which she likes to tell me.

Well, she should know that the law is more on your side than hers!

 

[pa2k84]

Oh i am sure she does just don't want to tell me!

 

[MrsRH]

maternity allowance is exactly the same as smp £123.06 a week

might be worth finding out from the job centre if you would qualify for that

There is a difference between the 2 and depending on your income, it can be a lot!!!
SMP is taxable and liable to NI contributions. MA isn't
With SMP, you get 90% of your wage for 6 weeks, MA you don't, £123.06 for the whole time.
I know!!! I lost out on thousands due to a previously shitty employer!

xxx

 

[MrsRH]

Yes is difficult

Not the most approchable woman will give till after Christmas and then have a chat with her about intended leaving date.

Another quickie if i say i am planning on returning to work do i have to go back or do i follow normal contract and give months notice before due to start saying i am not?

hun, could you speak to an employment specialist??? Perhaps ACAS or the CAB.
I think you need some expert help as it seems a wee bit complicated and you don't want to lose out or get shafted.

again, loadsa luck
xxx

 

[suzib76]

sorry all i ment was that the basic amount of ma is the same as the basic amount of smp - i know there are lots of variations in there - i am on ma and i still have to pay my NI for a start, but basically the weekly amount is the same apart from the first 6 weeks

 

[pa2k84]

thank you all again think i will try set up a meeting with someone and go through it al make sure i get everything right.