[UK] Two-thirds of organisations offer enhanced maternity pay

New research from XpertHR - the UK’s leading online HR resource - reveals that almost two-thirds (63.5 per cent) of organisations offer maternity pay that is more generous than the UK statutory requirements, HR News reports.

The latest figures showed that six in 10 organisations (60.8 per cent) offer enhanced paternity pay, while a quarter (25.1 per cent) offer enhanced shared parental pay.

XpertHR’s research revealed considerable variation in the way employers enhance maternity pay for their employees. The most common enhancement - provided by 42.4 per cent of employers - is full pay for more than six weeks followed by the standard statutory maternity pay rate. 

Among these organisations around three in 10 reportedly offer full pay for three months, although one in five offers full pay for six months. More than a third of employers (37 per cent) make enhanced maternity pay dependent on the employee returning to work following maternity leave.

Currently, statutory maternity pay in the UK is 90 per cent of the employee’s average weekly earnings for the first six weeks, followed by the standard rate of £151.97 (or 90 per cent of their average weekly earnings if less than this) for the next 33 weeks.

Together with enhanced maternity pay, XpertHR’s research found that four in 10 organisations (45.9 per cent) provide financial incentives or other benefits to assist an employee’s return from maternity leave, rising to 59.1 per cent among those with 1,000 or more employees. These benefits include coaching or mentoring support for maternity returners, and flexible working on either a temporary or a permanent basis.

Other family-friendly benefits surveyed organisations offer include paid time off for partners to attend antenatal appointments, fertility/IVF leave, additional paid time off for appointments for adoption and enhanced parental bereavement pay.  

However, 31.7 per cent of organisations do not offer any enhanced maternity, paternity, or shared parental pay at all, with cost cited as the main reason for only paying the statutory rates. Some participants referenced their company’s culture as a factor in this.   

Rachel Sharp - HR practice editor at XpertHR - said, “Well over half of organisations offer enhanced maternity pay. Employers that are willing to invest in all of their team, not just in terms of pay but also with family-friendly benefits, will also benefit in the long-term. 

“Being able to provide support during this time highlights your commitment to these employees and can be a really strong way to attract and retain top talent and create a culture of inclusiveness across the business.”

New research from XpertHR - the UK’s leading online HR resource - reveals that almost two-thirds (63.5 per cent) of organisations offer maternity pay that is more generous than the UK statutory requirements, HR News reports.

The latest figures showed that six in 10 organisations (60.8 per cent) offer enhanced paternity pay, while a quarter (25.1 per cent) offer enhanced shared parental pay.

XpertHR’s research revealed considerable variation in the way employers enhance maternity pay for their employees. The most common enhancement - provided by 42.4 per cent of employers - is full pay for more than six weeks followed by the standard statutory maternity pay rate. 

Among these organisations around three in 10 reportedly offer full pay for three months, although one in five offers full pay for six months. More than a third of employers (37 per cent) make enhanced maternity pay dependent on the employee returning to work following maternity leave.

Currently, statutory maternity pay in the UK is 90 per cent of the employee’s average weekly earnings for the first six weeks, followed by the standard rate of £151.97 (or 90 per cent of their average weekly earnings if less than this) for the next 33 weeks.

Together with enhanced maternity pay, XpertHR’s research found that four in 10 organisations (45.9 per cent) provide financial incentives or other benefits to assist an employee’s return from maternity leave, rising to 59.1 per cent among those with 1,000 or more employees. These benefits include coaching or mentoring support for maternity returners, and flexible working on either a temporary or a permanent basis.

Other family-friendly benefits surveyed organisations offer include paid time off for partners to attend antenatal appointments, fertility/IVF leave, additional paid time off for appointments for adoption and enhanced parental bereavement pay.  

However, 31.7 per cent of organisations do not offer any enhanced maternity, paternity, or shared parental pay at all, with cost cited as the main reason for only paying the statutory rates. Some participants referenced their company’s culture as a factor in this.   

Rachel Sharp - HR practice editor at XpertHR - said, “Well over half of organisations offer enhanced maternity pay. Employers that are willing to invest in all of their team, not just in terms of pay but also with family-friendly benefits, will also benefit in the long-term. 

“Being able to provide support during this time highlights your commitment to these employees and can be a really strong way to attract and retain top talent and create a culture of inclusiveness across the business.”