Has anybody not returned to work after maternity?

[vivaforeverr]

And if so, were you made to pay back your maternity pay?

Most organisations would expect you to pay back enhanced maternity pay. Not SMP.

I didn’t go back after maternity leave, but I only got SMP which you obviously don’t have to pay back, so I’m not much use I expect.

@MrsBennetsPoorNerves Do you know if they would usually expect the amount back in full?

Just considering my options at the moment, as really I'm unsure if I would be returning to work after having a second child realistically. I'd also like to become a carer for my first child who is disabled.

I didn't return and my very generous employer didn't ask for a penny back.
This was over 20 yrs ago, still the best boss I ever had!

A friend who did the same had to pay back a small amount a month for a number of years, she worked for the local council.

I know several women who didn’t go back. Some had to pay back their mat pay less any SMP they were entitled to, others didn’t have to pay back anything!

Your best bet would be to check your contract or the employee handbook for your workplace, have you a copy? You could always request one if not.

I think it varies. My current organisation (and my previous employers) would require you to pay back the full amount minus what you would have received in SMP. Some staff went back to my old employer for 3 months to avoid this, and then quit.

We would offer you a payment plan rather than expecting you to pay the whole lot back at once.

I’ll be going back to work but I can tell you that both the companies I have worked for have a policy to pay your enhanced mat pay back. My previous company stated you needed to come back for a year, my current company is 6 months.

I had a colleague who came back at my previous company, and desperately wanted to leave but told me she couldn’t afford to pay the money back. So it also depends how much would you have to pay back and what you could afford.

I work in HR.

You wouldn't have to pay back any statutory maternity pay (SMP).

If your employer offers enhanced MAT pay - ie pays more than the SMP rate- then whether you have to pay this back or not will be set out in your company's maternity policy, staff handbook or your contract of employer.

So check all this documentation.

My company doesn't require enhanced MAT pay be be paid back if you don't return after MAT leave but others do,

It was 18 years ago but I didn’t.
I told the biggest gossip at work that I was coming back so I didn’t have to repay my maternity and to get my year end bonus. Funnily enough it seemed to reach our manager who very diplomatically asked if I would be prepared not to come back in return for no repayment and my year end bonus and a 2 month paid notice period.
They actually did want me back but not to just leave again and I knew via the grapevine that there was someone internal who wanted my job.
All worked out very well

I didn't return and didn't have to pay anything back. They did do a redundancy round not long after I handed in my notice though. Probably I would have been better off taking redundancy.