Anual leave entitlement

[Onlymydogunderstandsme]

I am due to start maternity leave on 1st June which means my maternity leave will take me in to next year. Our leave at work runs from Jan-Dec so have been told to take all my anual leave entitlement before I go on mat leave which is fine and correct but we normally have to keep 3 days back for in between Christmas and new year and I have been told I still have to do that even though I'll be on mat leave, is that correct? I just can't see why I have to but if I do that's fine just don't want to lose the days if it's not correct! Thanks in advance for any advice!

Hello,
I can only tell you what my rules where. We too run from Jan-Dec and have to keep so many days back. I was told that I was entitled to all my holidays including all the bank holidays I would miss while on maternity leave. That's why I am now finished at work.
I don't think it's right but I don't work in HR, but I think you get to keep all the holidays like I have done.

No, that doesn't sound right to me. Take it up with HR!

Thanks for responses! The company I work for is small and no designated HR it's my operations manager who has been sorting it all out and he was adamant he was right when I queried it!! I'm the first person to be pregnant there so it's kind of finding their way as we go!! I did try looking at the government website but it was as clear as mud!! Where can I find out and ideas?

No your employer is wrong. You cannot be on maternity leave and annual leave at the same time so you should take the whole lot, including the 3 days usually reserved for the period between Christmas and New Year, before your maternity leave begins. Unless you are planning to return before Christmas and have notified them of that.

You can give your employer this link to look at www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?itemId=1081597918&type=RESOURCES

FYI there are lots of threads about this in the employment issues topic.

You should include any bank holidays too - they're just annual leave you have to take on specific days. Obviously you can't take them if you're on maternity leave.

Either that or can you carry the 3 days + public holidays until the 2013 holiday year giving you more paid time wih bubs?

PieMistress I wasn't allowed to carry it over, it was either take it before or take the money for them. I think that is the choice of the employer though.

Yes, it is down to the employer. Not all will allow a carry over if there is enough time to take it in the previous holiday year, but it depends on their current policy about carrying leave over - they can't allow everyone else to carry over a few days but insist women taking maternity leave take it all before.

Not all employers will pay you for untaken leave (unless you leave their employment) because that might not be a cost they can bear.

Not letting you carry over 3 days is a bit grippy :(

Agree with earlier post - there are loads of similar posts under Employment.

Good Luck x

Thank you for all replies. Have spoken to my boss about it this morning, it didn't go down to well but I think once I explained it to him made more sense! He was saying I will be getting paid for those days when I am on mat leave but i'm not getting my usual pay it will be SMP!! Anyway he is looking in to it! Doesn't help I have had to book time off for a physio appointment for SPD but there we go, I am refusing to be made to feel guilty about it when it's what i'm entitled to!

I'm not sure they can make you take your holiday before you start maternity leave.
You will continue to accrue holiday throughout maternity leave, so will have holiday to take from Jan which you can add on to your maternity leave (and therefore be off at full pay) if you want.
www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Moneyandworkentitlements/WorkAndFamilies/Pregnancyandmaternityrights/DG_175088
Holiday entitlement
You build up all your entitlements to paid holiday through all of your Statutory Maternity Leave. This is even if your employment contract says you are entitled to more than the statutory minimum.
You can add holiday to the beginning or end of your Statutory Maternity Leave. You may not be able to carry over untaken holiday entitlement if your Statutory Maternity Leave goes over two holiday years. It is often best to take this at the beginning of your Statutory Maternity Leave.