To think it's quite common to do this and it's not unreasonable?

[YuHu]

To go on maternity leave (and take the full amount) knowing full well you won't be going back without telling work until you have to give notice before you're supposed to be returning?

This is what I am doing at the moment, mid way through my maternity leave and I do not intend to return but won't be informing work until I legally have to.

My main reason for this is to safeguard myself in case the situation changes, I think it's far more sensible, even if you think you won't be returning, to not actually make it known until the end.

Perfectly legal and another reason for companies not to employ women of childbearing age. Be proud

Childbearing age is 14 to 50, ffs. There's no shortage of women that age working.

I think some of you are looking for excuses why you can't get a job: oh its other womens fault for things like this. When really it's because you can't read or understand simple things like OP isn't getting enhanced mat pay!

I did this too. To everyone saying it's immoral, it's legal. Women don't have enough rights, we have to take the advantage where we can. Employers would also shaft their employees equally as immorally with redundancies etc if it suited them.

I also didn't have to pay back my enhanced pay

For those who do, it may be a false economy when weighed against nursery fees to enable you having to go back anyway.

I see why you would do it from your pov.
But also I can see it from the employers pov,especially if a small company,that must make life difficult for them.Also someone else could take that job who really needs it.
It's not a simple Aibu really.Depends on the circumstances of each case.

Also someone else could take that job who really needs it

Yes... I might really need it come the end of my maternity leave if my situation changes. Which is why it makes no sense to tell them until the decision is final.

Then they can either offer the job to any maternity cover they already have or seek to find a replacement during my notice period like they would do with any other employee giving notice to resign

Someone else can still take the job when and if OP decides she doesn't want to go back. Women going on maternity leave and then deciding not to go back can't both be shafting the company because they will take time to replace AND be doing a job that's so disposable someone else can walk in straight away if they hand the notice in a few months earlier.

The fact that maternity leave makes an employer have to keep a position open for a woman returning is such a huge benefit and a real milestone in equality. The progress from the days when you were expected to give up your job when you got married less than 100 years ago is remarkable. The people who think that women handing their notice in based on contractual agreement are causing discrimination, are completely missing the point. The discrimination has only got better because of legislation like this, the reason it still happens is because it took laws being put in place for employers to change, they were happy with how things were before.

I think you still get SMP even if you quit after a certain point in the pregnancy. But anyway I don't think the fact that some employers discriminate against women in case they go on maternity leave is a reason to deprive all mothers the right to quit with the notice as per their contract.