Maternity pay during school holidays

[Gadwen]

My due date is 20th July, the first day of the summer holidays. I'm planning on taking a full year off. Does anyone know what will happen to my holiday pay? Will I still receive this (I work for Anglesey County Council, Wales)?

[bullseyebraces]

Are you on a term time only contract or something?

[DefinitelyNotElsa]

Are you a teacher? I believe the date you start your maternity leave is exactly that. Regardless of school holidays - if you are a member of teaching staff, your pay will be on maternity terms for the whole of the summer holidays.

I don't know how this applies for other school based staff.

[Gadwen]

Yes, I'm a school teacher. Doesn't seem fair to be paid a maternity scale during the summer holiday.

[SmileyScooby]

I'm a teacher too and due in early May so starting mat leave 1st day after Easter holidays and I know where you are coming from but from what I understand our annual salary is basically split between the months (whether it's holiday or not) so holiday time is still classed as normal pay time hence affected by maternity pay, whereas in other jobs people may use their holiday leave added to maternity leave we can't as that is included in normal hours etc. This is just how I've interpreted it anyway, and it's annoying me too as I will be on half pay/just SMP over the summer holidays....

[RedSal]

I am a teacher too and yes, that's the way it works from what I have read. I agree with you it seems annoying to 'lose' yr hol pay after working all year, however look at it from the following year's PoV - arrange to go back and work the last week of summer term (sports days and all that stuff!) and then get paid in full for the summer hol after being on leave all academic year. So you lose at the start of mat leave but gain at the end, so it all works out fair (to my mind at least).

Obviously the holy grail as a teacher is to have a due date about 3 weeks into Sept and work the first week of autumn term before baby comes and last week of summer term at end of mat leave and get paid for both summers.... I don't know about you but my TTC didn't work to clockwork like that! I do know two lucky people at work who had it turn out like that over last few years tho (but it may have been chance, I don't know them well enough to ask!)

[littlesupersparks]

Agree with the previous poster you will miss out this year but gain next year :-)

[FishWithABicycle]

So long as your normal pay will restart after 1 year and you get paid normal full salary in summer 2016 having not worked for a year, it would be fair. You have earned your summer pay packets in your work from Sep-Jul. If they happen in summer 2016 rather than summer 2015 you are no worse off than if your leave was May to April. If you don't get full salary for either summer 2015 or summer 2016 then YANBU - that is unfair.

[SweepTheHalls]

Set the start of your maternity as your due date to maximise your maternity benefits, but a July baby does give you the least on terms of maternity pay. Such is life.

[Littlemissjt]

I think we can also claim days back when we return to work. I've not looked into it all yet but I think it's maybe a max of 10 days. It may vary per local authority though. Agreed not helpful now but will be nice when you return to work!

[Jellybean2011]

There is a new legislation coming in about shared parental leave where you can book your maternity for up to 3 blocks and return to work inbetween so if your school agrees you may be able to 'return' just before the holidays or possibly during and then go back on maternity in September. Here's the link www.gov.uk/shared-parental-leave-and-pay/blocks-of-leave

I'm due the 23rd June so hoping my school agrees to let me return a few days before the holidays. You do need to take a minimum of 2 weeks maternity from the day your baby is born though xx

[Gadwen]

Thanks for all the advice :)

[littlesupersparks]

The only issue I can see is that if you return part time you will only be paid part time for the holidays...

[doobeedee]

You don't have to return for anytime before the hols when you go back by the way. Just put your return to work date as the first day of the hols. If you're going back part time request that it starts in the sept so you get full time pay over the hols. It's perfectly legitimate. I did it last year.