Maternity/Sick/Annual Leave query

[Ceolas]

I am currently off sick from work as a result of a pregnancy related condition. I was due to take annual leave from beginning of June and start mat leave mid July (at 36 weeks). Mat leave starts automatically at 36 weeks if sickness is pregnancy related. Fair enough.

However my current sick line stretches a week into my annual leave and I have been informed today of new legislation which means I should be entitled to carry my statutory annual leave entitlement over to next year. It feels a bit like sponging to do this. What do you think?

Also, apparently statutory annual leave is 28 days for full time, but I only work 12 hours (2 days) a week. Can anyone estimate how this would work out for me?

[twinklytoes]

I'm in your boat - sick leave started at 26wks with a full years annual leave to use, was saving it all to take before mat leave. sick leave ran until baby arrived right on 36wks! I'm taking all my leave in a few weeks and the extra for this year so far. I will be returning to work one week over the years entitlement.
Its really up to you whether stay on sick leave or not but I don't see it as sponging - I was laid up in a hospital bed for 4weeks before my DS arrived - it certainly wasn't a holiday.

not definate but think you are looking at about 10days. The only issue is that do all employees work 6hr days? If they are on standard 7.5hrs then you need to work it out in hours rather than days.

you also need to check whether the 28 is inclusive of bank holidays or not. if b/hs are in addition then you need to take pro-rate of the 8 as well.

[Ceolas]

No, there are loads of different rotas and shift lengths. Annual leave entitlement is usually given in hours rather than days. It's pretty confusing. It's only the statutory entitlement that can be carried over. I work for the NHS and they have an enhanced annual leave entitlement, but the enhanced part doesn't apply here.

I'm certainly not laid up in hospital and not likely to be, but I am pretty uncomfortable with this condition and working would be very difficult indeed. I've had it in previous pregnancies and from experience it's not likely to improve before the baby arrives.

[twinklytoes]

sorry only just got back. I'm nhs too.

it is no longer statutory holiday - all babies born / due after october 5th 2008 had added bonuses to maternity leave. these included maintaining any contractual benefits. therefore long service enhanced annual leave and the addition of bank holidays are contractual benefits.

you do need to work it out in hours for leave as nhs usually works on a 7.5hrs day

I'll scroll and find the link from flowery regards contractual benefits

[twinklytoes]

bank holiday and nhs thread - scroll to flowery's entry at 22:39 for link

[Ceolas]

Thanks twinkly

[twinklytoes]

hope everything goes well and baby arrives safe and well

btw, I was thinking about what you were saying regards sponging and although I have had everything agreed today - I go to paid leave for the last 12weeks of maternity, for the last two months (aug and sept) I am not going to claim this years annual leave entitlement on them as I thought it was a bit cheeky, given that they've given me so much. but thats my choice and hasn't been dictated in any way.