Scared employer will take my maternity pay

[Elizabeth199]

Basically, I'm going on Mat Leave in December. My company pay for 9 months which is great, but I've got this terrified feeling they're going to sack me when I return to work.

The agreement is you have to return to work and stay for 6 months, or else they can get back the maternity pay.

Is this possible, and if so, has anyone else felt petrified by this?

They can't just sack you there will have to be a due process

Most policies it is repayable if you leave / dont return for X period.
Not being sacked.

Yeah, if they sack you it's unlikely they can claim it back - I mean, it's not in your control. If you leave, it's different.

They cant just sack you first of all.
If they did, they cant claim back mat pay - that would only be possible if you resigned.

Is it enhanced pay they give for 9 months?

You would pay back anything above the SMP rate if you didn't return or left before 6 months had passed. I very much doubt they would be able to make you pay anything back if they sacked you. Do you have a reason to think they want rid of you?

Do you mean sacked or made redundant?

Have you done anything to warrant being sacked?

I was made redundant 6 months after coming back from mat leave. I didn’t have to pay back mat pay. I would have had to pay it back though if i had been offered an alternative role and turned it down, as that would count as resignation.

The 6 month requirement only applies to you I.e. if you resign and don’t work 6 months you have to repay. Yes I have known employers insist on repayment.

If you are made redundant or dismissed then the 6 month requirement is unenforceable. You are willing to work the 6 months but they are preventing you by making you redundant.