Taking maternity leave straight after maternity leave ???

[jezebelle]

Hi, well my baby is 13 weeks old and i've just found out i'm pg again !! Apart from the shock i'm wondering where i stand with work ?? I work for a LA and i got 3 months half pay after the 6 weeks full pay, but had to agree to go back for 12 weeks. I was planning on going back in March but this baby will be due May, and officially i don't have to go back till June. Can i overlap my maternity periods, ie take maternity again from March ?? and what about the 12 weeks ?? and what will i get pay wise ?? will it just be smp ??
Don't think my manager will be very happy, we were reorganised and i went to her team pg, she wasn't overly impressed about that, let alone me telling her i'm pg again !! lol

[hairylights]

Contractual additional maternity pay will be a contractual issue separate from entitlement to statutory maternity leave

[hairylights]

You'll need to ask your employer.

[ChippingIn]

Congratulations!!!

I have no idea about the pay/leave stuff... but hey, it'll all work out I'm sure.... and you are pregnant, so really who cares

A 10 month old and a new born... hmmm... probably best not to dwell on that right now

Very excited for you though.

[LIZS]

You can back to back ml's but I suspect it will be just smp. However your earnings for qualifying weeks may well be too low so you would n't get 90% just the minimum. There may be something in your terms and conditions info which would clarify it without you having to ask specifically yet.

[flowery]

The terms and conditions for your enhanced mat pay are entirely up to your employer so you need to check your maternity policy to see if you need to physically be back at work for 12 weeks. Probably.

In terms of SMP if you don't go back at all you probably won't get it at all because you probably won't earn enough. To get SMP you need to be earning enough during weeks 17 - 25 of your pregnancy to average £102 a week.

If you don't earn enough to get SMP during those crucial weeks, you may be entitled to Maternity Allowance instead.

[jezebelle]

I'll be getting SMP those weeks flowery, which is over £102, so surely i'll get more SMP ??

As for the 12 weeks, i dunno, but i'm hoping it'll be carried over to after the next period of maternity, you can offer 1 hour a week for 12 weeks though, there is no stipulation you have to return to your normal hours, my old manager sid its a major loophole and so many get away with not returning because if they turn down your offered hours its their problem :)

[hairylights]

You get to tell your employer the hours on which you will return to work?

Surely that can't be right.

[HarrietJones]

Is there a way you can use your AL in between to give you some pay?

[stripeybump]

Wow, congratulations!

You will def not get the enhanced mat pay for your second leave, and will also prob have to pay back the non-statutory part of your first leave if you don't return for the 12 weeks. Not sure about the mat allowance v standard mat pay thing - I would've thought you'd still be entitled to proper statutory mat pay again.

Will all be worth it in the end...!

[jezebelle]

Hairy, anyone can request amended hours on their return after maternity, the company don't have to agree, but yes in theory i can ask to return an hour a week ! They don't have to agree, but being local authority they are fairly flexible.

Re the annual leave, i'm hoping to take 4 weeks to cover my first month back and then go on maternity again, thats what i'm hoping but don't know if it'll be a reality ! I will return after baby 2 so hoping the 12 weeks will just be carried over maybe ?? :)