Using Parental Leave to Extend Maternity Leave

[RainRainGoAway12]

My maternity leave runs out in September. I work in a school so can’t extend it using accrued leave. This is my second child and I definitely will not be having another.

I’m contemplating using parental leave to extend this by 8 weeks to November. My school will not be pleased but as a household we could afford for me to do this. DH is happy with whatever I decide.

AIBU?

YABU - Don’t extend it. There is nothing to gain.
YANBU - Go for it!

You can put the first day of the holidays as your return to work date. You are sacrificing 14 weeks of pay for 7 weeks extra at home. It’s not worth it and, from experience, it’s so so much easier to be back at school in September than coming back mid year.

I'm doing this; due to go back in early September but will probably go back in December or January. I'm expecting work to be fairly quiet due to the recession so I think they'll be glad to have someone on unpaid leave. I'd planned to do it in advance of current lockdown so had budgeted for it accordingly. DS is going to nursery, albeit part time, from September as I have some exams to do in October and it will also allow us a long and relaxed period of settling him in.

Hoping my work will be up for me doing the same OP, haven’t looked into the rules for using parental leave though, do they have to agree?

I did this but I was due back Feb half term and stayed off until Easter. It was my 3rd mat leave. They didn't like it but they can't refuse, only ask you to delay to a more convenient time.

What if your child is ill during the school year? Does that mean you will be unable to take the day off.

@hm246 Revolutionary thought but maybe the child's father could take time off if they're unwell...?

Parental leave can only be taken in week blocks. Dependents leave is for illness.

They can force you to postpone by 6 months I think if its going to have a negative impact on delivery of education

If you want to and can afford it then do it. However the max you can take is 4 weeks in one year per child so I think the only way you could take 8 weeks would be to take 4 weeks for your baby and 4 for your older child. If they are getting eg funded childcare hours this could affect their entitlement.

Your work can ask you to delay but realistically it is probably easier for them to cover a longer maternity leave than if you take it at a separate time.