Changes to Maternity Leave Policy

PocketTalk

Hi All, looking for some advice.
My wife’s employer has changed their maternity leave policy. having previously paid 18 week at 100% pay, it is now reduced to 60% pay. My wife had availed of the benefit in 2014 after our first child. She is now luckily 3 months pregnant and heard through the grapevine the policy had changed as another manager had discovered this upon getting pregnant.
It turns out the policy was revised in Feb 2017 but was only communicated to the Irish employees via a small link "click here to see enhanced maternity leave policy for managers! “in the bottom a generic email staff newsletter which contained may other items. She did not read this newsletter nor realise there was a change.
Furthermore, upon enquiring into any change with the local HR manager she was told by email that the only change was to do with length of service entitlement. Upon pressing, it came to light this was incorrect and the pay entitlement had been slashed. She has complained but HR are basically sticking to their guns and saying although communication was poor there will be no exceptions.
Has she any avenues here, or is it a case of suck it up. Obviously it’s a big financial blow to us and at the time of considering expanding our family we had factored in the 18 weeks fully paid mat leave. it had always been viewed as a big perk/benefit of the job but it’s not included in her contract T&C's.

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks in advance.

Really Interested

PocketTalk wrote: »

Hi All, looking for some advice.
My wife’s employer has changed their maternity leave policy. having previously paid 18 week at 100% pay, it is now reduced to 60% pay. My wife had availed of the benefit in 2014 after our first child. She is now luckily 3 months pregnant and heard through the grapevine the policy had changed as another manager had discovered this upon getting pregnant.
It turns out the policy was revised in Feb 2017 but was only communicated to the Irish employees via a small link "click here to see enhanced maternity leave policy for managers! “in the bottom a generic email staff newsletter which contained may other items. She did not read this newsletter nor realise there was a change.
Furthermore, upon enquiring into any change with the local HR manager she was told by email that the only change was to do with length of service entitlement. Upon pressing, it came to light this was incorrect and the pay entitlement had been slashed. She has complained but HR are basically sticking to their guns and saying although communication was poor there will be no exceptions.
Has she any avenues here, or is it a case of suck it up. Obviously it’s a big financial blow to us and at the time of considering expanding our family we had factored in the 18 weeks fully paid mat leave. it had always been viewed as a big perk/benefit of the job but it’s not included in her contract T&C's.

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks in advance.

Legal advice not permitted on boards. If your wife is a member of a trade union that would be the first stop.

Pat Mustard

Mod note:

This thread can remain open as long as no legal advice is given (or requested again).

I imagine that general advice can be given or people can point to legislation etc. as long as no legal advice is given.