Please help!
I took my maternity leave starting 1st July and told work my maternity leave would end 1st April taking 9 months, I didn't take any of this years annual leave because my plan was to return to work in March end mat leave early and take all my annual leave for this financial year to then still return as normal on 1st April.
It was this or take my annual leave before mat leave started and I wanted the time off after and thought I couldn't afford the 3 months unpaid
Since being off of course now I want longer and wish to take my full 52 weeks maternity leave, this would take me into the new financial year.. what happens to my annual leave I've built up this year? Can it be carried over to next year so after the 12 months off I can tag it on at the end? Am I entitled to do this? Does work have a right to say no?? Surely I'm legally entitled to my annual leave ?
I'd like to get an idea of my rights before I approach my manager with my request
Also can they decline my request to extend my maternity leave?
Thanks