2 years between maternity leaves

[Harriet428]

Is this reasonable?
went back to work Feb 2021 will finish for second maternity April 2023

What choice do you have?

I know several women who’ve come back from maternity leave already pregnant again - it’s totally fine!

More than reasonable but I'm pretty sure your employer can't refuse it anyway

You are legally entitled to the Maternity Leave
It is illegal to discriminate against you for any reason connected to your maternity status and the maternity leave you take.

Some employers won't recognise this. Those employers don't deserve to employ talented people, because sexism and discrimination have no place in any aspect of society, and anyone who is capable of getting a job elsewhere should do so, whether or not they are the person being discriminated against. If we all show solidarity in this way then such businesses will only be able to employ low-skill low-talent people who are incapable of getting any other employment, so they will soon go bust.

Sorry what do you mean reasonable? You must already be pregnant if your baby is due April? You are allowed to take maternity leave by law, if you had your children very close together it could have an impact on how much enhanced mat pay you receive, your pregnancies are quite far apart though. You havent returned a few months ago to go off again, i had less than 5 months back between 2 of mine.

of course it’s “reasonable”, who says it isn’t? Are you asking on your own behalf or regarding someone else?

Still early days, but assuming all is well I'll have 7 months between mat leaves 🤷‍♀️. No guilt, I've worked there for a number of years and will continue my career there for the foreseeable so I don't see the problem.

I went back to work January 2020, went off again October 2020 and in between that wfh from the March with covid!

thats life and reality for many. Crack on

I will have had about 18 months between returning and going off again. It is what it is

That seems pretty average to me. Loads of parents aim to have their DC two to three years apart, gives time to recover from the first one but close enough to minimise the awkward stage of one being in primary and one in secondary.

Is there someone at work implying (or outright stating) that you are not reasonable? Because they are wrong and someone should have a stern word with them.

I had two years between mine. No one commented on it.

A colleague took the better part of 2 years off for one pregnancy. Thanks to sickness beforehand, a years mat leave, moving to part time and then taking bank Holidays and annual leave accrued while full time. This went down like a lead balloon.

Can't see what she did wrong here tbh 🤷‍♀️, not her fault she was sick and the rest is her entitlement. I hope she wasn't made aware that it had gone down like a 'lead balloon' and she was treated fairly, and if not I hope she took your employer to a tribunal.

Totally reasonable!

I went on maternity in December 2018 and was due back in January 2020 but was 7 months pregnant with baby number 2 so went straight on maternity again without going back! Finally went back in January 2021 and am about to go on maternity again at the end of November for baby number 3! My work have had no issues with it at all.

There is no reasonable or unreasonable regarding mat leave. You are entitled to it

Why does it have to be 'reasonable'??

I went back in Feb 2021 and was off again August 2021 - don't really care what people thought!

Sounds more than reasonable. I went on maternity leave with Dc1 (took 12 months) I started maternity leave with Dc2 12 months to the day (same due date 12 months apart). Not ideal.

I know how you feel. I had two babies back to back with no gap (they are 10.5 mths apart) and I felt terrible telling my boss but my friend said to me, and it's very true "what's the difference of having two babies back to back or one now and one in four years?, what difference does it make". I still felt bad but I don't now because after many years of loyal service I've left them as they were arseholes to me about being part time so I left and went somewhere that treated me better! Don't worry about it, do what you need to do for your family! Good luck.

Well it's more than twice as long as I had between mine. It's fine, it is what it is.

It's reasonable, do you mean would your employer/other employees be a bit annoyed? Well I think 2 years is ok, coming back from maternity leave already pregnant I think is taking the Micky. We as women fought to get maternity leave, fought to be recognised as equals but I think it comes with responsibilities to actually respect our employers and a max of 2 maternity leaves at least 2 years apart seems that balance to me. Just saying it smp isn't the point, the employer has to keep your job open, that costs them money

I had a similar gap and I’d say it was a longer gap than average. The most common gap between pregnancies is 2 - 3 years so, assuming a year for mat leave, most people will come back for 1 - 2 years.

@TheDressinggownofdoom all of which your colleague was entitled to do.

@Harriet428 Has anyone suggested this is unreasonable?