Maternity leave

One of the teachers at school announced this morning she is having another baby, so will be off from November for a year. Great we all congratulated her lovely lady. good teacher and sure she is a good mum.
Walking home I was thinking in last 5 years she had 3 years off and this will be her 4th ! How much does that cost ?

Then same school another teacher has been off on Paternity leave - less time think it's been about 8 weeks.

But the school is paying for temps and it just seems crazy as they announced last week they are closing the library to try and save money. Swimming pool never opened this year as they cannot afford to do that, and they had to let go 2 classroom assistants at Easter.



Obviously people have to have time off when they have a child but it seems to be getting to a tipping point for employers.

Re: Maternity leave

I've often wondered who foots the bill when the government announces that workers can have time off for 'this, that and the other'.

Re: Maternity leave

I believe the first 39 weeks can be claimed back from the government so all tax payers are paying that, but it's expensive for the employer to get a replacement for the person.

Re: Maternity leave

There are two of us in the office, the other lady has gone off on maternity leave for the 2nd time in three years each time having a full year off and then not forgetting they still accrue holidays whilst they are off.

Because this is such a small company that means I have been left on my own again for a full year as they will not pay to have a replacement.

Not complaining as such at least I am kept busy.

Re: Maternity leave

The system is what it is, I personally have no problem there, it's when the same folks refer to their earnings as "Hard Earned Cash", what the hell is that all about?

Re: Maternity leave

Well look at the positive side of it, it'll mean more gay people will get the jobs in the future, no need for maternity leave there, except a few female couples who used a sperm donor, so they'll be first choice, that's the way it's heading I think, things are changing at a rapid pace nowadays.

Re: Maternity leave

In the case of schools, though, surely the tax payers pay that too?

Re: Maternity leave

They do but schools have a budget and each time they get in a temp the budget for other things like books etc goes down. So the kids lose out really.

Re: Maternity leave

I do think the maternity and paternity leave these days must be a huge boon to parents. Also the parental leave days that keep cropping up. We didn't have that choice as we had to take annual leave for any extra time off.