Maternity help

[MermaidDreams83]

Hi, hoping to get some clarity here. I have returned from maternity 1st March after going off 18th September. I had full salary whilst I was off. Upon returning The commercial director left and I have been given his work load as well as mine (head of marketing) have since handed in my resignation and my boss informs me I need to pay back £6500.

I understand him wanting the additional pay back but I just wanted to seek advice can he do that given there was no contract in place for maternity at all? Nothing was discussed apart from my boss saying he would pay maternity instead of a payrise which I would get upon returning. Which I didn't. Any advice is appreciated this is causing me a lot of anxiety.

As far I know you don’t have to pay it back. If there was no agreement then they can’t possibly enforce that.

Have you looked through the companies maternity policy? It's usually stipulated in there how long you must work for on returning from maternity leave.

Also have a look in your contract and see if it says anything in there. It is normal policy for a company that pays enhanced maternity to request money back if you leave say within three months but it should be written in either a policy or your contract.

Did you ever get written confirmation of your maternity leave? It might be in there.

Hi, Maternity Action has an advice line that you can call who will be able to talk you through this. Generally statutory maternity cannot be asked for back, but enhanced maybe depending on policy / contract.

In my job (NHS), you have to work 3 months equivalent of full time hours after mat leave. If you don't, you would be subject to repaying your maternity pay.

only if it is in your contract.

www.maternityaction.org.uk I had to speak to this charity for advice about my pregnancy (boss an awful, awful, awful bully about the pregnancy). Charity were absolutely BRILLIANT. and they know what they're talking about, maybe a good place to start? Xx

As you had enhanced pay, it may be stipulated in your contract that you need to pay it back if you don't stay with them for a certain amount of time. You should read your company's maternity policy.

Thanks everyone I'll check out maternity action. There is nothing in my contract about maternity and I've not seen a company maternity policy, one was certainly never given to me. No written confirmation about maternity only my resignation thanks everyone