General Chat

I work in a Team of 4, one of whom is going on maternity leave shortly. The boss says there's no money in the budget to get someone in to cover so the 3 of us will have to take on extra duties whilst the mum-to-be is absent for the next 6 months. I thought companies could recover maternity payments from the Government, presumably to help meet the costs of covering the leave ? If this is true I can't understand why the depleted team can't have temporary help or at least receive extra payment for taking on the additional work. (the company is a large local authority)

the government doesnt help companies. it gives the statutary pay to the mother but the company doesnt get a bean. hard when you're a small company to afford 2 wages, but then i sympathise if you have to do extra duties. its a toughy and no mistake.

Paul - I think you are wrong. An employer can recover 92% of the amount paid in SMP to their employee and if they are a 'small employer' - i.e. where their total annual N.I. bill is less than £45000 they can reclaim it all plus a bit more to cover administration costs. Jayvee - I think I'd be tempted to mention that to your employer and get him to contact HM Revenue and Customs. Reckon he's trying to pull a fast one meself! LOL Mags xx

Hi Mags I've just checked that info on the web and it's spot on, so thanks very much. You're also right to suggest the boss is trying to pull a fast one - it's exactly the kind of thing he'd do, thinking that none of us will bother to delve a bit deeper. Reckoned without the GR network, eh ?!

Jayvee - I knew that you used to be able to recover SMP when I worked for IR - so I double checked to make sure my information wasn't out of date before posting. I want to be there to see his face when you tell him! LOL One thing about these boards - there is ALWAYS someone that knows SOMETHING!! hehehe. Mags xx

You're right again, Mags, that's why I posted here, I just knew someone would have the answer ! (You don't know of any reliable plumbers in the North Wales area do you, lol ! )

OOPS, sorry. didnt mean to give you bum info!

Not about the thread but. This site is very good for lots of bits of info but come on Jayvee, a reliable plumber? There is no such thing as a reliable plumber? Or reliable anything to do with the building trade, however there are good plumbers and builders. On this site the impossible can happen but miracles will take longer Roy

Yes, Roy, but in my book a good plumber isn't a good plumber if he ain't reliable !

Try going sick with stress due to the added workload, bet they soon get someone in to cover Lil Says me who has never been off sick

Now there's a good idea, Lil......

We used to claim SSP and SMP back from the government, we were a small company......