What if I don't go back to work after maternity leave???

[babybrain3]

Does anyone know what the situation is if you dont want to go back to work after your maternity leave??

Do you have to pay back your maternity pay, or are you allowed to just hand your notice in at the end? I work for a charity and I will only get the smp.

I'm only 13 wks at the moment, but I think that when nursery costs are worked out there wouldn't be much left over for me to take home. Although I do love my job, I don't want to do it just do I can send my baby to nursery.

If it's only SMP then no you don't have to pay it back. It's paid by the government not your employer, so don't feel bad about it (but do think hard about the long term financial implications of quitting, including pensions, any state help you might get with childcare costs, and how difficult it would be to find another job - especially if you want to work part time).

I didn't return after my maternity leave and didn't have to pay anything back. I know my work did some sort of childcare vouchers you could get, would yours? Maybe help pay towards the nursery costs. Could you go part-time or flexible with your current job?

Some good advice above!

In my case, I don't get childcare vouchers but my husband does - which will make it more affordable for me to go back to work. It's definitely worth looking into.
You also get 15hrs free (well, govt-paid) nursery from the age of 3 iirc, so it might be worth sticking it out for 2 years til then just to maintain your employability iyswim.

You don't need to repay SMP.

Were just a small charity, so no vouchers here :( will have to do some number crunching and see what's what. Thanks for the advice though!!

I worked for a large company & didn't have to pay any maternity pay back. They were offering an incentive to return but I got pg with second child quickly so have taken a career break. If you can do it, the first three years fly by. I have had an evening job since ds was 4 months old so that dh & I could do the childcare. It has worked for us as we have little family support. I have now been offered a new job & ds is 3 so it'll be all change but I don't regret not going back after my dd. though it's been very hard at times. Especially when people think you don't work & you have two jobs!

Depends on your employer and their maternity leave policy.

Mine states that (applicable in case you said you will be back but decide not to in the end):

"The Maternity Leave Application Form also requires an employee to confirm that should she fail to return to work following Maternity Leave for a minimum of one calendar month, she undertakes to repay any salary or wages paid during the paid maternity leave period less any SMP to which she is entitled. There are good management reasons why she need not return; a genuine intention to return cannot be realised because of exceptional circumstances; medical evidence is provided that a member of staff is unable to return to work because the baby was born with a disability or has developed a long term illness."

This is in when you indicate on your form that you will be back but in the meantime decide not to come back after all. In my case this would be 16 weeks' full pay that I would have to pay which is quite a chunk of money. I have indicated that I will come back after maternity leave (but will most probably request part-time hours).

I'm glad I found this post! babybrain3 I work for a small charity too and I only get SMP. I won't be going back after bubs arrives either as we're moving out of London and my miniscule pay packet won't even cover travel, let alone nursery costs. I was worried about paying stuff back but as StringOrNothing says as we don't get contractual pay we'll be ok. I must admit I'm very nervous to not be in employment even though DP can support us all....it's going to be very weird to not have an independant income so I'll prob find part time work when the time is right. Just don't want to work to pay a nanny!

If I don't go back il prob think about part time work too Lordy