United Kingdom Employment Guide

Maternity Leave in the UK: A Comprehensive Guide for Employers

Employees meeting eligibility criteria are entitled to up to 52 weeks of maternity leave, comprising 26 weeks of Ordinary Maternity Leave followed by 26 weeks of Additional Maternity Leave. Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is available for up to 39 weeks, with payment structure as follows:

• First 6 weeks: 90% of average weekly earnings (before tax)
• Following 33 weeks: £172.48 per week or 90% of average weekly earnings (whichever is lower)
• Final 13 weeks: Unpaid leave period

Effective April 6, 2024, the statutory pay cap increases to £184.03 per week after the initial 6-week period. Employers can reclaim 92% or 103% of SMP payments from HMRC, depending on their Class 1 National Insurance contributions.

Real-World Application: Supporting Working Parents

Many multinational companies using SailGlobal's HR solutions have implemented enhanced maternity benefits beyond statutory requirements, recognizing the value of retaining experienced employees during this critical life stage.

Paternity Leave: Supporting New Fathers and Partners

Eligible employees can take two weeks of paid paternity leave, which must be used in one continuous block. During this period, employees receive either £172.48 per week or 90% of their average weekly earnings (whichever is lower).

The statutory pay cap rises to £184.03 weekly from April 6, 2024. Concurrently, amendments to the Paternity Leave Regulations provide greater flexibility, allowing fathers/partners to take leave at any point during the first year following their child's birth or adoption.

Shared Parental Leave: Modern Family Planning

Parents can share up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of pay following the mother's mandatory 2-week recovery period (4 weeks for factory workers). The first 37 weeks are paid at either £172.48 weekly or 90% of earnings (whichever is lower), with the remaining 13 weeks unpaid.

Beyond standard Shared Parental Leave, employees may take an additional 18 weeks of unpaid parental leave, available until their child's 18th birthday.

From April 6, 2024, the statutory pay cap for the first 37 weeks of Shared Parental Leave increases to £184.03 per week, with employers able to reclaim portions of these payments from HMRC.

Case Study: Implementing Flexible Parental Policies

Organizations utilizing SailGlobal's global HR platform have reported increased employee satisfaction when offering flexible parental leave options, particularly among dual-career couples balancing professional and family responsibilities.

Sick Leave Provisions and Statutory Sick Pay

Employees are entitled to unlimited sick days. The first 3 days are typically covered by company sick pay schemes, after which eligible employees can receive Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) for up to 28 weeks at £109.40 per week.

Effective April 6, 2024, the weekly SSP rate applies to all eligible employees, though daily rates are calculated based on qualifying workdays per week. The SSP cap increases from £109.40 to £116.75 weekly.

Best Practices for Managing Absence

Progressive employers often supplement statutory sick pay with enhanced company schemes, particularly for long-term illnesses. SailGlobal's absence management tools help organizations track patterns and support employee wellbeing while maintaining operational efficiency.