Holiday entitlement when off sick during pregnancy

[Trix11]

Does anyone know if one is off on long term sickness while pregnant do they lose their holiday entitlement?

[LittleB]

I don't think so, surely sickness shouldn't affect your holiday, I know we can claim back annual leave if we are sick whilst on leave, although only with a drs note. Although presumably if you are off sick when it reaches the end of you holiday year and you haven't been able to use your annual leave, you might loose some then. we are only allowed to carry over up to 1 weeks leave with managers discretion, so if you couldn't use it up you might loose it. Sorry don't know how helpful that is, I'm sure someone will be along soon who knows more.

[Trix11]

I was hoping that when I start my maternity leave I would get paid for the holiday entitlement!

[PotPourri]

You accure leave whilest sick. Being pregnant makes not difference to that - EXCEPT in the last 6 weeks before EDD, at which point you are required to start maternity leave. You still accrue annual leave during the statutory maternity leave period.

The issue is if you accrue months and months of leave before you return to work. Most sensible option is to tag that onto your maternity leave, so that you have say 11 monhts off, 2 of which you are officially back at work, but on maternity leave. That is a reasonable thing to suggest to your employer, as it gives them time ot plan your cover. All of the above is assuming that you are returning to work. Think your entitlement might be different if you are not planning to return....

[PotPourri]

I think you would need to come to an agreement with your employer to pay you in lieu of your annual leave.

[LittleB]

I had my dd whilst technically on annual leave so they had to start my mat leave the day she was born and I had to tag the untaken annual leave onto my maternity leave, i asked them to pay it but they wouldn't. Might be worth asking but I was glad to have the extra days with dd before I went back.

[Trix11]

If I take the the nine months stat maternity leave then I wont be back in work in the same holiday year - does that make a difference. I am waiting for HR to confirm what happens.

[flowerybeanbag]

Sorry must jump in to correct PP about sickness in last few weeks of pg. An employer is entitled (although not compelled) to begin your mat leave if you are off sick with pg-related illness in the last four weeks of pregnancy.

You accrue your normal holiday entitlement during ordinary maternity leave, and statutory holiday entitlement during additional maternity leave. Of course your 'normal' might be the same as the statutory basic.

Normally an agreement is made to take some annual leave at the beginning and/or end of the mat leave period, as obviously quite a lot of holiday accrues during your leave.

Whether you are intending to return to work makes no difference to your entitlement, and neither does any sickness.

[flowerybeanbag]

trix also statutory maternity leave is a year, not 9 months.

[Trix11]

Thanks flowerybean - yes, its just that I get stat pay for nine months - sorry not making myself clear, will probably take the 12 months off if I can afford it.

[flowerybeanbag]

just wanted to make sure you knew you could take 12 months if you wanted to