Maternity Leave

[Sunshine28]

I had a brief discussion with my bosses yesterday about my job post-baby etc. They are happy for me to work from the office for 4 hours each day and then be contactable on blackberry etc. when I come back from maternity leave which is pretty good of them as I will still receive a full-time salary.

However I don't think they realised that I may be considering taking my full maternity leave time of 1 year (though the last 3 months will be unpaid). They were a bit worried when they heard that 'people' can now take up to a year off. The whole thing has made me feel a bit guilty and I am now considering taking less than a year. How much time are you ladies planning on taking?

Hiya Sunshine, it really does feel like 'damned if you do, damned if you don't' when it comes to taking mat leave. Some people expect you to go straight back, others talk as if it's a holiday- grr!
To answer your question, am taking the full year (plus an extra month to use up the accrued holiday for that year- if you haven't already then you might have to look into that too!).
I felt a bit weird taking such a chunk of time out after always having worked and also worried about 'leaving people in the lurch', but I realised a couple of things:
-the workplace goes on without you
-you don't get that time back with your baby
-if they are arranging cover and hiring someone external it may be better for them to get a decent person for a full year
-this is the first in what is probably a lifetime of parental guilt so let's just get used to it .
Honestly though, you do need to have a think and a good chat with your bosses. If you can afford it and you want to take a year, then do so. I know they've been nice, but please don't let guilt be the reason you go back early!
Hope you get something sorted

don't feel guilty, it's what you're entitled to! I'm hoping to take 9 months, but it depends on finances really - I only get smp so we'll just have to see how we go.

I'm taking 6 months, but haven't decided what hours I'm hoping to do when I come back (will probs go down to 4 days max).

My company is pretty standard I think for mat leave in that standard is 6 weeks at 90% and then up to a year on SMP. On that basis, we could only afford for me to have 3-4 months off then tack on a month of holiday. However, I have been personally offered 6 weeks at 90% and the rest of the 6 months at 50%, as long as I come back at 6 months, and this works out as a much better deal for us.

FWIW, I would take what you feel you want to based on what's right for you and your family, not based on perceptions of what managers in your company might think.

D

Hi Sunshine,

As I understand it, you tell your employer when you intend to return to work, but you can always change this by informing them in writing (with 28 days notice I think).

I am unsure of how much leave to take, so have told my employer to assume that I am taking the full entitlement (52 weeks) and that I will let them know in writing if I intend to come back earlier.

A year off with my baby sounds wonderful, but like some others I don't know if we can afford it, so will be playing it by ear after the 6 month mark, and maybe I'll go back after 9 months.

It's also hard to know in advance how I am going to feel about the baby/childcare/my career etc.

All new to me!

Pls don't try to feel guilty though. I found it helpful to talk about my 'full entitlement' which sounds better than 'a year off'!!!

I am taking 6 months, which is what I did last time too. I think it's a very personal decision and you won't really know what you want until you have got used to having a little one around.
Financially I needed to go back to work after 6 months and personally I found I was ready and enjoyed the 'freedom' of having a bit of my life back and being treated as me again but everyone is different!