Comments on: Mandating Maternity Leave http://www.hrgumbo.com/2009/10/05/mandating-maternity-leave/ Official Blog of Big Bend SHRM Sat, 07 May 2011 11:35:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Patricia HR.Net http://www.hrgumbo.com/2009/10/05/mandating-maternity-leave/comment-page-1/#comment-254 Patricia HR.Net Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:06:56 +0000 http://www.hrgumbo.com/?p=384#comment-254 In the UK now, you can get up to 1 years leave and the paid Statutory Maternity Pay has increased to 39 weeks, with the 1st 6 being at 90% of their average earnings while the remaining 33 is at approx £123 (approx $190). The Government reduces the companies tax liability by 92% of the Maternity Pay paid to employees. When a mother is on leave she can also choose to go to work for fully paid Keep In Touch (KIT) days, to attend meetigs, team building sessions or generally just keep in touch, to ease her transition back to work. I have never really understood how people (OK... I really mean women) cope in the US... To give birth then rush back to work, or go unpaid and/or have to get childcare at such a young age. And 12 weeks is still not very long. What happens if your child is sick when all your leave is up? I suppose that in a perfect world people would have saved lots of money, the main bread winner earns enough so that one of the parents can stay at home, and there would never be any sicknes! Shall I start on how much Annual leave we are entitled to.... NO that would probably be too mean. In the UK now, you can get up to 1 years leave and the paid Statutory Maternity Pay has increased to 39 weeks, with the 1st 6 being at 90% of their average earnings while the remaining 33 is at approx £123 (approx $190). The Government reduces the companies tax liability by 92% of the Maternity Pay paid to employees. When a mother is on leave she can also choose to go to work for fully paid Keep In Touch (KIT) days, to attend meetigs, team building sessions or generally just keep in touch, to ease her transition back to work.

I have never really understood how people (OK… I really mean women) cope in the US… To give birth then rush back to work, or go unpaid and/or have to get childcare at such a young age. And 12 weeks is still not very long. What happens if your child is sick when all your leave is up? I suppose that in a perfect world people would have saved lots of money, the main bread winner earns enough so that one of the parents can stay at home, and there would never be any sicknes!

Shall I start on how much Annual leave we are entitled to…. NO that would probably be too mean.

]]> By: Kris http://www.hrgumbo.com/2009/10/05/mandating-maternity-leave/comment-page-1/#comment-251 Kris Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:09:03 +0000 http://www.hrgumbo.com/?p=384#comment-251 "Who's paying for it?" That's the first question that sprung to mind and it sounds like Tim is thinking along the same lines. Maybe as a follow-up post, you could address who is paying in each of those countries you mention. “Who’s paying for it?” That’s the first question that sprung to mind and it sounds like Tim is thinking along the same lines. Maybe as a follow-up post, you could address who is paying in each of those countries you mention.

]]> By: Tim http://www.hrgumbo.com/2009/10/05/mandating-maternity-leave/comment-page-1/#comment-250 Tim Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:13:30 +0000 http://www.hrgumbo.com/?p=384#comment-250 Great post; this is very informative. I've read about this before, but I think this will open a lot of eyes for people that didn't know how the U.S. ranks so poorly in this regard. One thing that should be mentioned as well is that (at least so far as I know) in other countries, maternity and paternity leave are generally paid for by the government rather than employers. Great post; this is very informative. I’ve read about this before, but I think this will open a lot of eyes for people that didn’t know how the U.S. ranks so poorly in this regard.

One thing that should be mentioned as well is that (at least so far as I know) in other countries, maternity and paternity leave are generally paid for by the government rather than employers.

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