Should an employee be eligible to payment for statutory maternity leave they will be paid statutory maternity pay for up to 39 weeks. The first 6 weeks is payable at 90% of the employees average weekly earnings, with £139.58 or 90% of the employees average weekly earnings (whichever is lower) for the next 33 weeks.
To qualify for SMP the employee must:
- Earn on average £112 per week;
- Give notice at least 15 weeks before their due date;
- Provide proof that they are pregnant; and
- Be an employee and have worked for you continuously for at least 26 weeks up to the ‘qualifying week’ – the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth.