This article has been written for the Koru Kids nanny service. It is to help nannies understand whether they are eligible for maternity and sick pay.
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Maternity pay
To be eligible for Statutory Maternity Pay, you must meet the following criteria:
Have worked continuously for 26 weeks with the same employer before your qualifying week.
Earn at least £123 a week on average for 8 weeks before your qualifying week.
You can use this government calculator to check whether you are eligible.
If you meet these criteria, Koru Kids will calculate your entitlement and process monthly payments accordingly.
In case you are not eligible for SMP, you may still be able to apply for maternity allowance which you can read more about here.
How long can I take for maternity leave?
You can take up to 52 weeks of maternity leave, and you have the flexibility to start your leave from 11 weeks before your baby is due. The specific details of your leave period should be discussed directly with the family you work for. Remember to keep Koru Kids informed about the start and end dates of your maternity leave.
Additional Resources: For further information and guidance, we recommend checking the ACAS website and the Government website. These resources offer valuable insights into your rights and responsibilities during maternity leave.
Sick pay
To be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), you must earn on average £123 gross per week across the relevant period. You must also be sick for at least 4 days in a row (including non-working days). You can read more about this on the government website here.
If you are unwell, it's important that you let the family you are working with know as soon as possible so that they can make alternative arrangements. It’s also important that you let us know all the shifts that you’ll miss on your timesheet, so that we can pay you correctly and don’t overcharge the family.
Once this is logged on your timesheet, we will then share this information with the payroll team who can look into whether you’ll be eligible for SSP whilst you’re off work. It’s important to mention that we review sick leave at the end of the month, so there will be a delay in hearing back from us about whether you’re eligible for sick pay or not.
Do I need to provide a sick note?
If you will be off work for 7+ days, we will also require proof of sickness. You’ll need to contact your GP (or the hospital) for a doctor’s ‘fit note’. You can read more about providing proof of sickness here.
We hope this article provides clarity on your eligibility for maternity and sick pay. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out.
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