[UK] Financial pressures forcing early return to work for new mothers

New research suggests that a large number of new mothers suffer financial stress during pregnancy and maternity leave, forcing them back to work sooner than they would like after the birth, Eastern Daily Press reports.

Maternity Action - a charity that promotes and protects the rights of pregnant women, new mothers and their families in employment, social security and health care - surveyed 1,000 new mothers. It found that three out of five managed financial pressures by using credit cards while a similar number had returned to work early or intended to do so.

According to the charity, only 13 per cent of women on maternity leave benefit from employers’ occupational maternity pay schemes, a dramatic drop from 44 per cent in 2008.

It cited the number of women unable to claim statutory maternity pay because of the nature of their work contracts or self-employment.

Ros Bragg - director of Maternity Action - said, “The low levels of maternity pay and benefits come as a huge shock to many trying to start families. We’ve heard from women skipping meals, relying on food parcels and becoming anaemic because they can’t buy healthy food.

“This isn’t good for the health and wellbeing of mothers or their babies.

“We’ve yet to hear from the Government or any of the political parties about how they will respond to this pregnancy poverty crisis if they were elected.

“It is crucial that plans are put in place to invest in improving levels of maternity pay and benefits over the term of the next government.”

Maternity Action launched its manifesto End Pregnancy Poverty to all the political parties ahead of the general election.

Source: Eastern Daily Press

(Quotes via original reporting)

New research suggests that a large number of new mothers suffer financial stress during pregnancy and maternity leave, forcing them back to work sooner than they would like after the birth, Eastern Daily Press reports.

Maternity Action - a charity that promotes and protects the rights of pregnant women, new mothers and their families in employment, social security and health care - surveyed 1,000 new mothers. It found that three out of five managed financial pressures by using credit cards while a similar number had returned to work early or intended to do so.

According to the charity, only 13 per cent of women on maternity leave benefit from employers’ occupational maternity pay schemes, a dramatic drop from 44 per cent in 2008.

It cited the number of women unable to claim statutory maternity pay because of the nature of their work contracts or self-employment.

Ros Bragg - director of Maternity Action - said, “The low levels of maternity pay and benefits come as a huge shock to many trying to start families. We’ve heard from women skipping meals, relying on food parcels and becoming anaemic because they can’t buy healthy food.

“This isn’t good for the health and wellbeing of mothers or their babies.

“We’ve yet to hear from the Government or any of the political parties about how they will respond to this pregnancy poverty crisis if they were elected.

“It is crucial that plans are put in place to invest in improving levels of maternity pay and benefits over the term of the next government.”

Maternity Action launched its manifesto End Pregnancy Poverty to all the political parties ahead of the general election.

Source: Eastern Daily Press

(Quotes via original reporting)