Statutory maternity leave in the UK is one of the best in the world in terms of the amount of leave women are entitled to.
Recent research, conducted by Instant Offices, found that the UK is one of the top five countries to offer the most maternity leave.
In the UK legally, mothers are allowed up to 52 weeks of maternity leave, at 90 per cent of their original pay.
While on maternity leave, employees are protected and still receive pay rises and accrue vacation days.
A mother’s maternity may also be shared with their partner, in the government’s Shared Parental Leave initiative.
Shared Parental Leave (SPL) allows parents in the UK to share up to 39 weeks’ pay and up to 52 weeks’ leave. Parents can choose to take up to six months off work at the same time or stagger their leave so that there is always someone to care for their child. The scheme is also open to adoptive parents, same-sex couples and co-habiting couples.
Discover our guide on Shared Parental Leave
Sweden, Croatia and Norway all offer more maternity leave, with Croatia also paying 100 per cent of a mother’s salary throughout the time.
The research also found that Sweden has the best benefits, allowing each parent to shorten their working hours by up to 25 per cent until their child turns eight. Each parent can also take parental leave up until their child turns eight. This applies to each individual child, so you’re able to accumulate leave from several children excluding multiple births.
However, the study also found that maternity leave taken between 2012 and 2014 has drastically decreased. In 2012, the average number of maternity days taken stood at around 137, compared to in 2014, when the average number of maternity days taken stood at around 101.
Below, WeAreTheCity take a look at how new mums can balance their career; the latest news relating to mothers and maternity leave; and maternity rights and how to go about enforcing them.
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Australian senator becomes first to breastfeed in Parliament
Larissa Waters, an Australian senator, has become the first politician to breastfeed in Parliament. Returning from Maternity leave for a vote on Tuesday, the Green party member fed her two-month-old daughter, Alia Joy.
Mums paid three per cent less at work per child
Mums are paid three per cent less for every child they have compared to female colleagues who do not have children, according to new research.
The new research from Université Paris-Saclay has revealed that the pay gap between working mother and non-mothers currently stands at three per cent per child.
Government ensures commitment to supporting working mothers of premature babies
The government has ensured their commitment to supporting working mothers of premature babies. The government has drawn up guidance that will cover everything from how employers can offer flexible working arrangements following a premature birth to how to handle requests for additional time off.
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Five things you should know before creating your maternity plan
Despite the excitement around having a baby, in reality there is a lot of planning that comes with it that can seem daunting and stressful. When planning to take time off work, you want to make sure you create a plan that is best for you and your employer and make the most of the options available to you.
Setting up a business when on maternity leave
Here, Elsa Caleb, a Business Advisor at the Start Up Loans Company shares her top tips when starting a business on maternity leave. Before setting up a business whilst on maternity leave check your maternity policy and contract with regards to statutory maternity terms and pay.
On maternity leave? Perfect time to start a career in accounting
Believe it or not, starting a career in accounts is not as hard as you may think. There are even a few courses you can start which don’t have entry requirements of 12 A levels and a degree in wizardry. In fact, one provider even offers an online assessment which will tell you where you should start.
Planning a baby in 2017? How to make it positive for you and your career
What are your goals for 2017? Is to get pregnant or to have a baby one of them? If you are planning to become a mother or just starting to feel broody, knowing how to ensure you and your career not only survives but also thrives is a key consideration for many women today. If 2017 is the year you want to become a mum or start trying to conceive is there a part of you holding back, fearful of how you would cope, financially, professionally or emotionally and unsure how your colleagues and career could be affected?
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Maternity rights in the workplace
Over the past 45 years, there has been a significant volume of legislation aimed at protecting the rights of women in employment. This article summarises some of these rights, particularly those relating to childbirth and childcare responsibilities.
Understanding your rights when pregnant or on maternity leave
The Equality and Human Rights Commission report released in July 2015 brought maternity-related discrimination to the headlines. It brought many issues surrounding pregnancy in the workplace to people’s attention and has highlighted how difficult a decision it can be to decide to start a family as a working woman.
Top tips for employees on managing your pregnancy/maternity leave
Each year thousands of women face unfair discrimination in the workplace as a result of being pregnant or choosing to take a period of maternity leave. Many face unfair treatment from employers and work colleagues, whether it is after they tell their boss about their pregnancy, whilst they are on maternity leave or when they return to work.
Practical steps to tackle maternity discrimination
Many of us will know someone who had a pretty awful experience post maternity leave.
While we’d like to think such instances are few and far between, a recent report into maternity discrimination from the Women and Equalities Committee painted a grim picture indicating that things are worse now than a decade ago.
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Mums need support to transition back into work after maternity leave
Women don’t just need employment protection whilst on maternity leave; they also need support to transition back into work, claims a diversity consultancy.
The Clear Consultancy argue that by providing new mums with the training and support they need to transition back into work is crucial to prevent them from feeling alienated from the rest of the workplace upon their return.
Postnatal depression, maternity leave & returning to work
I deal with many enquiries from women who are considering returning to work whilst or after suffering from postnatal depression. Furthermore, there are also those who return to work and are then diagnosed with the condition.
This is unfortunately a regular occurrence and unlike when you are pregnant, there is no specific protection for employees who are sick once they have returned to work following maternity leave.
Going back to work after maternity leave? Get yourself a buddy
A recent spate of news reports has revealed a shocking increase in workplace discrimination against new mothers in the UK. According to The Women and Equalities Committee the number of expectant and new mothers forced to leave their jobs has almost doubled to 54,000 since 2005.
Returning to work? Discover our featured returnship programmes here
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