About to be a first time father so just getting my head around the different schemes.
I'm quite shocked at the poor rate of maternity pay. At €262 it's not much more than Jobseekers Allowance at €220 and a long way from a livible wage. It's also unlikely a person on mat pay will qualify for any of the other benefits that someone on JSA may be entitled to.
My wife earns decent money in a professional job. However the company is very small as it's pretty much industry standard for maternity pay not to be topped up.
I will get my Paternity Leave topped up. But not Parents Leave. I certainly won't be able to afford to take any Parents Leave untill she goes back. I think it's also €262 a week. Even then it will be difficult. A case of trying to survive on one salary for up to a year.
I understand that Parents Leave is currently 7 weeks and may be extended. However I don't see anything about increasing the rate. From what I see only people who are lucky enough for it to be topped up take it.
Now it's probably a case of me being blind to problems that I don't face and I'm sure the situation is better than it was only a few years ago.
However it appears that the state is relying very heavily on large companies and multinationals to top up maternity and other leave.
I get the feeling that these companies play a bigger role in Ireland than say a European average.
Should the state not be providing a higher level of base mat, pat pay and perhaps taxing all businesses more to cover it?
I can understand who a small business of 4 or 5 can't afford to pay an extra person for 6 or more months. You need to hit a certain number of employees to be able to afford to top up leave I expect.
I'm quite shocked at the poor rate of maternity pay. At €262 it's not much more than Jobseekers Allowance at €220 and a long way from a livible wage. It's also unlikely a person on mat pay will qualify for any of the other benefits that someone on JSA may be entitled to.
My wife earns decent money in a professional job. However the company is very small as it's pretty much industry standard for maternity pay not to be topped up.
I will get my Paternity Leave topped up. But not Parents Leave. I certainly won't be able to afford to take any Parents Leave untill she goes back. I think it's also €262 a week. Even then it will be difficult. A case of trying to survive on one salary for up to a year.
I understand that Parents Leave is currently 7 weeks and may be extended. However I don't see anything about increasing the rate. From what I see only people who are lucky enough for it to be topped up take it.
Now it's probably a case of me being blind to problems that I don't face and I'm sure the situation is better than it was only a few years ago.
However it appears that the state is relying very heavily on large companies and multinationals to top up maternity and other leave.
I get the feeling that these companies play a bigger role in Ireland than say a European average.
Should the state not be providing a higher level of base mat, pat pay and perhaps taxing all businesses more to cover it?
I can understand who a small business of 4 or 5 can't afford to pay an extra person for 6 or more months. You need to hit a certain number of employees to be able to afford to top up leave I expect.