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Browse frequently asked questions and answers on key HR issues. Navigate by topic or key word search. View latest additions or suggest a question to the XpertHR editorial team.
How does an employer determine an employee's right to statutory maternity pay? Which individuals are excluded from the right to claim statutory maternity pay? How is "expected week of childbirth" defined? What notice of the date that she wants her statutory maternity pay to begin does an employee have to give? How is statutory maternity pay calculated? What is included in an employee's "normal weekly earnings" for the purposes of calculating statutory maternity pay? Can an employee who does not have average weekly earnings of at least the lower earnings limit for national insurance purposes claim any financial assistance throughout her maternity leave? How is statutory maternity pay calculated when there is a salary-sacrifice arrangement in place? Where a pregnant employee has two jobs will she be entitled to statutory maternity pay from each employer? If a part-time employee temporarily increases her hours for a period prior to her maternity leave, on what basis should her maternity pay be calculated? If an employee is in receipt of sick pay during the period for the calculation of statutory maternity pay, is her maternity pay calculated on her actual pay or the pay that she would normally have received? Can statutory maternity pay be paid in a lump sum at the start of maternity leave? Should allowances such as travel allowances and car allowances be used in the calculation of statutory maternity pay? Where an employee is off sick when her maternity leave is due to start will her sick pay continue or will she transfer to maternity pay? Does an employee still qualify for statutory maternity pay if she leaves her employment? If an employer dismisses a pregnant employee as redundant is she still entitled to receive maternity pay? If an employer dismisses a pregnant woman for gross misconduct must it still pay her maternity pay? Can an employer dismiss an employee to avoid paying her statutory maternity pay? Where an employee does not qualify for statutory maternity pay can her employer stop providing her contractual benefits during maternity leave? Can an employee who has not been employed by her employer for 26 weeks by the qualifying week claim any financial assistance throughout her maternity leave?