Statutory Maternity Pay: Do You Have The Right To Statutory Maternity Pay?
What a beautiful time for you, pregnant and expecting possibly your first child or an addition to the family. Regardless of the conditions it is nice to be on familiar terms with what your maternity rights are when you go to work. It is vital that you understand if you are entitled to statutory maternity pay and if not, then what the alternate options are. It may seem a bit of a minefield at first, what your maternity entitlement may be, plus if you'll be able to get a maternity grant to help. You will have numerous questions regarding pregnancy itself and also about your own job and working conditions.
Times change thus benefits and maternity leaves change too. There are expected to be additional adjustments to the paternity leave soon but for now your partner could take two weeks paid leave. Because of this when the child is born and you are back at home, you have the option of having your partner there with you. It's your decision and you may spend a very precious time with your new baby without having to think about finances.
You could let your very own employer work out your SMP, or you may have the choice of going to the government site with your details and there is a maternity pay calculator which lets you work out what you are due.
You do need to verify that once you have informed your employer of your pregnancy that they go on to do a risk evaluation of your work area and environment. It is important that your well being and that of your own newborn is protected.
It is vital that you are aware of your very own maternity rights as sadly you will discover several unscrupulous employers out there. These individuals think that it is okay to discriminate against expectant mothers and make sure to deny them their rights. Certain employers don't want the trouble of finding a replacement for you while you are on maternity leave and decide to fire you. A few even attempt to scale back your hours and change your work load so the working environment is intolerable for you and you feel you have no other alternative but to leave. All these actions are against the law.
There is help accessible for you plus the law is on your side it is a very foolish employer who thinks they may pester and intimidate an expectant mother in today's employment market.