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Original poster

need some advice about work- maternity leave

18 replies

Hannie123 · 30/09/2019 17:18

Hi everyone!
Just wanted for someone more knowledgeable than me to give me some advice. My LO is only 6 weeks so I have a while before I head back to work. I work in a school and when I announced my pregnancy, work became quite difficult with certain aspects. No one wanting to do risk assessments or informing me when students had contagious sicknesses etc.When I handed in my matb1 form to them along with the type of maternity leave I would take take, I never heard back from them. So after months of chasing it up, I was told my matb1 form and been 'misplaced'. So I had to go back to the midwife and get another form etc. (The office staff had informed me that it was never given to them by senior members of staff).

However, I never received anything in writing to confirm my leave or pay or anything regarding my maternity leave. Was I supposed too? I was so busy at the time (moving homes and getting sick, heavily pregnant) I just got tired of chasing HR about everything by this point.

Right now, I’m actually worried I’m being overpaid and want to avoid this at all cost. Should I been given a breakdown of my payments? If I am being overpaid, I want to give it back ASAP and obviously not spend any of it. To make things worse, since being on leave, I now have no access my work emails! The person in charge of everything has now left too. I am using my personal email to communicate with them but honestly they have been no help at all. I have requested all my payslips to be sent to me so I can check it. But since I never received anything before, how am I supposed to know how much I’m entitled too?

I will probably call the headteacher tomorrow and have a chat. But the overall work environment is very poor and nobody seems to have any answers. But can anyone advise me on this as I’m really worried. Should I have received anything before I left work? How can I ensure I’m not being overpaid? What did you receive before you left for maternity leave?

This really is the last thing I want to be dealing with while having a newborn

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 30/09/2019 17:57

www.gov.uk/maternity-pay-leave/how-to-claim yes they should have written to you. Do you get statutory or enhanced pay?

dementedpixie · 30/09/2019 17:58

Also if its SMP its 90% of pay for the first 6 weeks

AntiHop · 30/09/2019 18:10

They've treated you appalling op.

I'd call the Maternity Action advice line for some help.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
LolaSmiles · 30/09/2019 18:17

That's appalling.
My school were told before I got my MATB1, sent me a full policy through for maternity and parental leave to help me make my decisions, then did me a full quote of different options and what I'd be paid at each stage.

I've seen some calculators on the union websites but I can't remember where they are.

Original poster
Hannie123 · 30/09/2019 18:31

@dementedpixie I’m getting enchanted pay for a bit and then 27 weeks of smp then the rest unpaid. I’ve taken the full year off. I’ve been getting paid but was never told in writing how much I’ll be paid or anything like that.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hannie123 · 30/09/2019 18:35

@LolaSmiles I was given a form with different options and pays and I selected what I wanted. I signed it and took it to the hr lady (twice as she lost it) and that was the end of it. Never had anything given to me in writing to confirm my leave. I mean I’m supposed to return in July, but if they don’t contact me and have cut off all communication, how am I supposed to go back? So confusing

OP posts:
Lilfabet · 30/09/2019 18:44

If you are a teacher it's full pay for 4 weeks then 90% for two weeks then 12 weeks half pay plus SMP then just SMP.
You should've had a breakdown from whoever does your payroll (which might not be the school).
They should also be in touch with you about "keeping in touch days". Your school will be waiting for you to confirm when you will be returning - you have to give 8 weeks notice if it's before the end of the full maternity period.
I'd like to say the school are letting you settle into motherhood without bothering you but that doesn't seem to be the case from what you've said. Give the head a ring or better yet email - that way you have proof of the conversation if you need it later.
Congratulations on your lo

dementedpixie · 30/09/2019 19:17

The school has to assume she is taking a full year and she would only have to give notice to go back earlier than that

Original poster
Hannie123 · 30/09/2019 21:01

@Lilfabet so I am on something similar to what you just said (I basically had 4 options depending on if I would return to work after 1year). Which takes me to the next point of me stating I’m taking a full year. But this was never then put down in writing to confirm. On my last day the head didn’t even know it was my last day... I went to say goodbye and they were startled when I said yes, I’m 38 weeks and it’s time for me to go!

To be honest, so much was happening in the school at this time (lot of bad press due to some serious problems) I don’t think they even cared about me or my maternity leave!

OP posts:
LolaSmiles · 30/09/2019 21:12

I think then as long as you give the required notice to come back before the year (if you want to) then you'll be ok. The change of return date is 21 days I think, at least I think that's what I have to give if I want to change my return date.

Agree with other posters that it's worth getting in touch about your KIT days and follow up any questions, but you should be ok if you've had your pay breakdown through.

dementedpixie · 30/09/2019 21:18

Its normally 8 weeks to change a return date

maternityleave234 · 30/09/2019 21:25

Not a teacher - But work in public sector (emergency services), I didn’t get a break down of how much I’d get paid - I get 18 weeks occupational and the rest SMP. I did ask our pay section however they said they don’t give break downs.
What is the maternity package like? I thought teachers were similar to my occupational pay, unless it was an academy which I know is different.
You should have easy access to your payslips...so this should be something you should he able to get. Id they are paper ones can they not be posted on to you at home?

maternityleave234 · 30/09/2019 21:27

In my sector we need to give a months notice re return to work.....

ChicCroissant · 30/09/2019 21:34

I had a letter confirming the date that I would be starting my maternity leave, they should assume you are taking the whole 12 months so it may have the last possible date to return to work on or it may have no return date at all. If you want to return earlier than that time, the maternity policy will say how much notice (usually 8 weeks).

Payslips should show you how much is enhanced pay and how much is statutory maternity pay.

While it may be inconvenient, they are probably not breaking any rules by blocking your email access while you are not at work.

The school not writing to you is not going to stop you going back.

Original poster
Hannie123 · 01/10/2019 02:31

@maternityleave234 I have requested them to send me payslips homes, I do have to remind them frequently about this though. And yes, it is similar to yours. When you went for leave, even though they didn’t give you a payment breakdown, did they write to you confirming your leave? If so, what did you receive?

OP posts:
Original poster
Hannie123 · 01/10/2019 02:36

@ChicCroissant I see, that makes sense I assumed (and waited) for a letter that confirmed my leave and expected return date.
I know this can’t affect when I return, but by not confirming my expected return (should I change my mind) I could argue I was under the impression I don’t need to return?

Upon my return, since I have no work email access, would I have to contact them and discuss this, as opposed to them asking me?

OP posts:
Landlubber2019 · 01/10/2019 03:05

I never got anything in writing from my employers in terms of my salary expectations or return date.

I now work on the other side of the fence (not hr) and I know that I can not approach staff about return dates from maternity leave. I have to wait for staff to contact me or my manager when they are thinking about returning / keeping in touch days.

Enjoy the time with your new baby and don't worry about work Flowers

maternityleave234 · 01/10/2019 08:35

@Hannie123 I emailed HR to say I’d had DD as I was actually due to be at work as she came three weeks early and I was working up to a few days before I was due. HR acknowledged the email and said congrats.
I did have to fill in a form to submit alongside my MatB1 re my intentions for maternity leave (ie how long).
Although I have access to my work emails Prior to leaving I asked for an external email address as a point of contact.

To be honest your school sounds pretty unorganised! Can you go in and try and speak to someone? You could show DC off to work colleagues etc? Or go in on an inset day to speak to your boss?

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