Mat Leave Vent

I am so p'd off I just found out that although I have been employed with the same company for over 5 years I am not entitle to their paid maternity plan because I was only made a permenant part time employee 20mths ago. You have to have been employed as a permenant staff member (not casual) for 2years prior to the commencement of Mat leave to receive the 8weeks of paid leave. So when I commence my Mat leave I will be just 2 month short of 2 years so so so annoyed.

It has taken me 3 months to get hold of a Mat leave info pack/form (ended up having to drive to head office 45mins away) and I have been working over night shifts not wanting to alter my current contract for fear of losing the paid leave entitlement and now they tell me I don't get it anyway.

Sorry for the winge just really angry that such a large company can't get their act together and make sure staff are correctly informed and have access to info/forms. I was planning on taking 1/2 pay for the 1st 16 weeks so it wouldn't be such a sudden drop onto one income.

Not happy:(

Do you have a union rep? You have nothing to lose by getting another opinion on whether you are entitled to maternity leave.

Just by talking to a union rep, and my employer (the HR folks) knowing that i was working with the union, helped the employer to 'remember' that i was entitled to many more payments that they forgot at the first meeting when i was by myself.

That sucks! Can you try to negotiate with them? is there a sympathetic HR person you can talk to?

I'd be having a chat with a union rep. like Kate mentioned, it can be helpful and informative to have one try for you.

at what point are you taking mat leave? as i am sure that aslong as you are at the time frame(so 24 months) when the EDD (25/2) then you are able to have mat leave

I've been thinking about it - 2 years is a really long waiting time! our company has a 1 year policy, but I know one woman that was with us for 11 months & was still elegible (curtesy of one of the HR reps going to bat for her).