What to write in letter to employer about starting maternity leave?

[Laura05]

Hi all i have a meeting with my boos tomorrow and he needs a letter stating when i'm starting my maternity leave.

Im due 30th July but was planning on using up my 4 weeks holiday before that so technically my maternity leave will start 1st August.

I don't know exactly what to write though, do I state my holiday request (which has already been accepted) or just state that i want to start maternity leave the week beginning the 1st Aug?

Does it matter if you officially start maternity leave after your due date?

Is there anything else I need to mention in the letter?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! xx

I'm honestly not sure whether you can start your mat leave after your expected due date, but Business Link seems to suggest that you can put it off until you actually give birth. Of course, if you give birth before your maternity leave officially starts, they'll bring the start of your maternity leave forward.

Can you tag your four weeks' holiday on to the end of your mat leave, instead of the start? Or split it? That's what I'm doing -- I'm taking one week before my mat leave starts and 4 weeks after it finishes.

I think your boss will just need start and finish dates of your mat leave, your estimated due date, plus the leave you are taking around it. It will also be worth mentioning the holidays (and potentially bank holidays) you'll accrue while on mat leave.

Your maternity leave has to begin the day baby is born, if not before. I tag any leave onto the end of mat leave.

Hi laura05,

Maybe best to have the meeting with your boss and discuss it with them then as it can depend on how flexible they will be with you. Then get the letter done over the weekend for them.

My understanding is your mat leave can start as late as you want it to but you legally can't come back till at least 2 weeks after the birth ( sure you will want more than that!).

Once you have agreed everything with them I would clearly lay it out in the letter of what dates are holiday and which date your mat leave starts.

You don't have to tell them how much you are taking but you can if you want to. I said I was unsure of how much mat leave I would take at this stage but stated I was eligible for 52 weeks however estimated I would take 6/8 months.

I am pretty sure if you go on mat leave without giving a return to work date You have to give 2 months notice for your return to work date if not agreed before you go and if your return to work date needs tochange again you have to give 2 months notice.

Good luck.

if due 30th July the latest you can start ML is 30th July

if baby is born earlier, then ML will begin then, but you wont get holiday "back"

I ththi

Hello

According to my HR department, mat leaves automatically kicks in on baby's date of birth so mat leave cannot start after baby is born.

For example, I'm starting Mat leave on 1st September, last day in the office is 29th July because I am tagging holiday on to it. If babies turn up before 1st September mat leave will kick in and I will lose the holiday days.

I have had to give an estimated return to work date, and if I want to change that have to give them 28 days notice.

Also, have to notify them by week 21 of my plans.

So, in summary, think all places might be different although there are statutory guidelines that need to followed as a minimum.

I did the same in my last pregnancy, I took 4 weeks holiday and started my mat leave on the monday before my due date. Was about 2-3 days before I was due. I wrote in the letter that I would be starting my mat leave on X date, would be taking 4 weeks holiday prior to this date and that my last working day would be X. I also stated the date that I intended to return to work but that I reserved the right to change this if I wanted to return earlier/later and I would notify them in writing if nec.