to think a colleague coming back to work off maternity leave can say WHEN she is coming back

[Joggler]

as she is
a) happy to come back
b) definitely coming back
c) would help us ALL if we knew.( affects other peoples jobs)

do some people think they have to leave it to the months notice even if they KNOW alread?

I told my boss when I was coming back six months before. As I had to book a nursery place that early and it was all done and dusted, I didn't see the point in holding back the information because it was my "right".

And I also felt that by being upfront and honest from the start it would buy me a bit of goodwill, which seems to be the case.

I can completely understand where you are coming from, particularly if you are in a position where you are covering for that role and it stops you from making your own plans.

Was just going to say what Flowery said - it is actually 8 weeks notice of anything other than the full 12 month's maternity leave.