Handing in notice on maternity leave

[Murphy29]

Just looking to see if anyone has been in a similar position and has any advice.

It's looking very likely that I won't return to my current job as they won't allow me to cut my hours or if I do it's been made clear that to get the promotion I'd need to be FT. I've hopefully got something lined up but not starting until Sep/Oct to allow me to have a full year off.

My notice period is 3 months so even if I accept new job now (and start October) could I wait until June/July to hand in notice? My thinking being that my 3 months would still be covered by mat leave but would mean that I wouldn't have a gap between jobs on my CV?

Is that possible or would I have to tell them now? TIA

[LIZS]

Won't the other company want a reference before July?

[CurlyWurlyCake]

You can hand your notice in when you like.

Are you on oml? Just asking because I had enhanced maternity leave with the NHS, I had to return for a month or pay back some of the money.

[PotteringAlong]

Remember if you don't return for a set amount of time (in my job it's 13 weeks) you will need to pay back your maternity pay.

[LIZS]

That is not true of enhanced maternity pay schemes, you keep Smp regardless.

[LIZS]

Only not not!

[Murphy29]

Thanks, I hasn't considered the reference aspect so I'll look in to that.

Yeah I'm hoping to use any accrued holidays to cover the enhanced part (which isn't much anyway) and no point in going back as I wouldn't be able to do anything as I wouldn't take clients back for such a short period. Also, our mat pay isn't great but is made up by a "return to work bonus" so it's easier if I don't receive that as need to pay it back unless stay for 1 year.

[baffledmum]

What does your mat leave policy say? My employer does not require women to pay back enhanced mat leave if they don't return to work. Each business will be different.

Likewise your notice, you just need to hand in your notice in line with that. If you hand it in in July for an Oct start then you are still employed until Oct and won't have a gap on your CV. Similarly your non-cash benefits and possibly your employer pension contributions will continue to be met, only give in your notice when you need to.