Maternity leave - how long?

[Newmummytobe79]

Hi,

I'm just wondering how long you're all planning on taking for maternity leave?

I work for a small family company and they'd like to know my plans soon so they can keep clients happy etc and I'm wondering if my plans are 'the norm'.

I'd like to take all 39 weeks SMP + my 5 weeks holiday + Bank Holidays, which works out at about 45 weeks and 4 days. I would ideally like to start my maternity 4 weeks before my due date (I'd rather wait until 2 weeks before but my drive to work takes over an hour in the morning and between 1.5 and 3 hours at the worst to get home).

Is my boss going to expect this - or do most think working mothers would want to return sooner?

Any advice would be great thanks ladies! x

Im having 9 months off at half pay plus SMP. I will then be taking 5 weeks annual leave at the end on full pay so in total 10 and bit months for me.
I intend to work till 39 weeks as I want most of it with baby and not before. I know from experience I will get bored if I leave too early.

Mind you i use public transport to get to work and it was hard work last time. I left at 39+5 and she was born 5 days later so only just made it lol

I am planning exactly the same as you.

I dont think you can add Bank holidays on by the way ? You are entitled to your annual leave but not bank holidays.

I'll get 90% for the first 6 weeks and then it's SMP for me! To be honest - it doesnt even cover my half of the household bills but we're hoping we can cope on it! Wow - 39+5 is brave! Maybe I should work up to 38 weeks ... !

Re Bank Holidays - really? I'm sure my friend took hers. Fingers crossed I can!

Im taking the full 52 weeks, Im leaving 5 weeks before my due date. I want to spend as much time with my baby as possible, I will probably take my years leave on top on this aswell. I have a feeling that I will not want to go back to work, so the longer I leave it the better I think.

Am I correct in thinking you are allowed to take 52 weeks but you only get SMP for 39? Thanks

I plan on taking between 9-12 months off. I get full pay for 6 months and then SMP for three months after that. I decided to take four weeks off before my baby is due but decided to use holiday leave instead of starting my maternity leave. I've told work that i will be at least 6 months, told my immediate boss that it will probably be 9 months in reality to allow her to replace me if she needs to. I did get a little stroppy with my more senior male boss as he was really harassing me to give him an exact time i.e. to confirm that i'm only taking 6 months off. Basically I told him that as i've never been at home with a baby before i can't honestly say if i will love it or get a bit bored and come back early - that really annoyed me and clearly still does as I'm typing quite hard on the keys!

Sorry meant to also say, yes Newmummytobe79 - legally you are allowed 52 weeks but only get SMP for 39 weeks. If you return within 6 months, then you can straight back into the exact job that you left. If you are out for 52 weeks then they have to give you a similar job.

I was planning to take 39wks SMP (same situation - statutory 6wks 90% then SMP). I'm only taking a week off before my due date in holiday because other people's holidays in the office clashed, although I guess I could move things closer if I was really struggling.

Now considering taking the full year (last three months unpaid). To be honest, I'm considering becoming a stay at home parent and I think three months with only hubby's income might give us an indication of whether we can really afford it. My other option is to stand for election as a local councillor (elections two months into my final, unpaid three months) and do that (if I got elected) instead of going back to my current job as it would be so much more flexible.

I think it's helpful to give an indication of when you might return to work, but you don't have to. The automatic (legal) assumption is 52weeks after starting maternity leave and I believe you have to give two months' notice of when you want to come back. So you don't have to decide yet.