Maternity leave - what to do!

[Tryingtobe123]

Hi guys

I’m so torn on what to do. I know ultimately it’s my decision but it’d be great to get some advice if you were in my shoes.

I have been on maternity leave since April, taking advantage of my company maternity pay. If I don’t return to my job for 12 months (at least) then I have to pay back the extra amount I’ve been paid. I work in a sales job where the minimum hours I’ll likely be doing will be 50/60 hours a week. At the time on me going on maternity we really needed the cash so I agreed to suck it up and agree to return and get paid the larger amount. Long story short we have kindly been gifted a large amount of money that has put us in a completely different position money wise. I don’t need this extra money per month, I can comfortably live off statutory maternity pay now and look to pay back what I’ve borrowed so far. This is my first child so I don’t know how tough it would be to do all those hours and have my little boy. Can anybody offer any advice from experience? Would you take the extra pay, have a fantastic maternity leave but then possibly endure 12 months of stress and sadness at barely seeing your son grow?! So stuck

Do you have to go back full time for those 12 months? Legally you can request part time hours.

Can you put aside the omp so you have it to repay if required. 12 months is a long time to try to make it work, however you will accrue leave while off which may offset some.

I’d put in a flexible working request to reduce your hours and would also put aside the extra money should it be declined so you can just quit. No way would I go back to a 60 hour a week job if I didn’t have to.

I wouldn't be able to (want to) work that many hours, no.

There is no way on this earth that I could (or would want to) work all those hours with a baby.