What is Occupational Maternity Pay (OMP)?
Occupational maternity pay (OMP) is an additional payment employers may provide to pregnant employees during maternity leave, supplementing the legal minimum known as statutory maternity pay. It offers enhanced financial support, often improving on the basic statutory benefits. OMP plays an important role in employee benefits and retention, particularly in recruitment and employee wellbeing strategies. This form of pay fits within the maternity leave phase of the employee lifecycle and often aligns with contractual terms managed by HR teams.
How Occupational Maternity Pay Works
Typically, OMP pays a percentage of the employee's normal wages for a specified time during maternity leave. It usually requires meeting eligibility criteria such as a minimum length of service. OMP runs alongside, or on top of, statutory maternity pay and maternity allowance, enhancing overall maternity payments.
Benefits of Occupational Maternity Pay
Offering OMP provides employees with financial security beyond the basic statutory pay. It can improve employee morale and retention by showing commitment to family-friendly policies. This pay also supports a positive workplace culture, attracting and retaining skilled employees.