19 June 08 – Maternity Rights and Mothers' Employment Decisions

Research published today exploring 'Maternity Rights and Mothers' Employment Decisions', shows that the majority of working mothers received some type of maternity pay.

The research assesses the impact of the 2003 maternity rights and benefits legislative changes and tracks the changes in women's labour market participation prior to and post birth of a child.

The survey conducted in 2007, involved face to face interviews of just under 2000 mothers whose children were aged between 12 and 18 months, and had worked at some point in the 12 months before the baby's birth. The research provides an up to date picture of mothers' experiences of maternity rights and benefits and how these affect their work decisions.

Key Findings show that:

• The majority (88 per cent) of working mothers received some type of maternity pay with 41 per cent receiving a combination of Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) and Occupational Maternity Pay (OMP), 35 per cent receiving SMP only and 10 per cent receiving Maternity Allowance (MA) only. A small proportion (12 per cent) of mothers did not receive any maternity pay.
• About three-quarters (73 per cent) of mothers were entitled to Additional Maternity Leave (AML). However, a considerable proportion of these (32 per cent) believed they were only entitled to the statutory minimum period of leave (26 weeks). 16 per cent of these mothers even took less than the statutory entitlement (26 weeks) while 35 per cent took exactly 26 weeks maternity leave.
• Mothers whose employers provided three or more family-friendly arrangements, mothers with partners, mothers in professional occupations and mothers in the top income group were more likely to take more than 26 weeks of maternity leave. Lone mothers, mothers working in elementary occupations, mothers in the lowest income group and mothers with less or no family-friendly arrangements at work places were less likely to take more than 26 weeks of maternity leave.
• 76 per cent of mothers included in the study returned to work between 12 and 18 months after the birth. Provision of five or more family-friendly arrangements, the most generous maternity pay package (combination of SMP and OMP), job tenure and being a mother with a partner was positively associated with returning to work.
• While the majority of mothers (86 per cent) returned to their pre-birth job, their employment circumstances changed considerably after the birth. A considerable proportion of mothers (37 per cent) who returned to work after the birth decreased their working hours.
• Mothers outside London were more likely to reduce their working hours post birth than mothers based in London (38 per cent and 29 per cent respectively).
• Many working mothers were relying on childcare support provided by families and friends either in combination with formal childcare or on its own - 30 per cent of mothers were using formal childcare only, 30 per cent were using informal childcare only and 29 per cent were using a combination of formal and informal childcare. More than half of mothers who returned to work were using grandparents for regular childcare, 27 per cent were using a day nursery, 16 per cent a nursery class or school and 13 per cent a childminder.
• 10 per cent of mothers said no flexible working arrangements (e.g. part-time work, job share, home working) were available in their first pre-birth job. 53 per cent reported three or more flexible working arrangements.
• Employers' support with childcare (e.g. childcare vouchers, workplace childcare) and other types of support (e.g. career breaks and retraining after maternity leave) were reported by most mothers with the largest group (48 per cent) mentioning one or two types of support and 30 per cent reporting three or more.

Notes to Editors

• "Maternity Rights and Mothers' Employment Decisions" (DWP Research Report number 496) by Ivana La Valle, Elizabeth Clery and Mary Carmen Huerta is published today as part of DWP Research Report Series. A copy of the report (and summary of the research) can be downloaded from the department's website at http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rrs-index.asp

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