Employment Law...Does OH retain her car allowance during mat

[Rangeroverover]

OH is deciding between having a Co car or taking the £4750 p.a car allowance. If she takes the money will she continue to receive it while onmaternity leave.

She doesn't want to "come out" to her boss until all tests etc are done and all is OK but needs to make the car/cash decision now.

Any HR/Employment law experts, hope you can help.

[Jonno02]

More often than not, no. If she had the company car, she'd most likely be entitled to keep the car. If she has car allowance, this will stop.

[TheHound]

Yes she does! Its a contractual benefit that continues to be due during her employment.

[jkh112]

Are there any conditions associated with her company car entitlement?
I have worked for employers where there are 2 types of co. car users: those entitled due to grade, and those entitled due to their current contract commitments (they return the car or stop receiving the cash when they cease to work on that particular contract). The latter is in the case where the contract entails significant travel beyond that normally expected.

[Countdown]

TheHound said:

Yes she does! Its a contractual benefit that continues to be due during her employment.

Just to add "non-cash" contractual benefits (CoCar, PHI, Mobile Phone, Laptop, Gym mebership) continue during mat leave. "Remuneration" or cash benefits (which i think the car allowance would come under) do not.

[Rangeroverover]

Confused now,she gets car/allowance due to grade, does that mean she retains the car cash while on leave if she takes that option rather than having a car?

[bint]

At our place you continue to keep the car or allowance depending on which you already had.

They stopped company cars 2 years ago though and just provide allowance.

It did help when I was deciding whether to take the full 12 months maternity leave or not (I did).

You also want to look at childcare vouchers if your work has a scheme as you can start saving these up before the child is born.