Need advise on when to start maternity leave????

[Sarahmarie2505]

ok am 30 weeks work 2 physical jobs home care and cleaning I work about 45/50 hours a week roughly that an change a little each week. Basically been told I've used all my allocated holiday up to date but I can affiliate holiday y I'm on leave. Kinda annoying as wanted to use a couple of weeks holiday in 3 weeks time then not come back but now looms like I have to go a bit longer and I'm jus so tired :( when is everyone else leaving or what are your plans etc?

I'm not currently at work as on sick leave with PGP. But with my last pregnancy I left as early as possible. (29 wks) as was also working in a heavy care work role. I just put my accrued holiday on the end of my mat leave instead of the front.

If you are tired and cannot manage to go much further don't feel bad for leaving now. You need to listen to what your body is telling you.
Do you get the additional mat leave offered where you work so that you can take a year off?

I haven't got a clue what I'm entitled to??? When they ask when I want to leave they jus say ok we hope ur coming back!? I'm like yes I'm coming back ! Geeeez ! I will b getting smp so I presume I'm entitled to 9months?? Think then in that case I will put that I will leave when I'm 35 weeks dnt think I can go past that I'm so nackered and I'm also doing a diploma with them !

Can't you take the holiday which is owed to you for the rest of the year before your maternity leave? That's what I'm doing, I'm due in September, but my holiday is starting at the end of july, when i will be 35 weeks, until the end of aug, then my mat leave will begin.
I also do care work, and it's hard work, cleaning is even harder imo!

You need to speak to your boss or HR dept.

That was the answer from my boss ! As I have 2 other children I had to take a week off in may and a week in June as of half term ! Arggghh nightmare ! So I have decided after talking to u nice ppl to leave on 23rd June as I b 35 weeks then jus dnt think physically I can go further then that !

The direct.gov.UK website had a good personalised calculator so you can work out what you're entitled to (and use it to inform your employers like I did).

Ok cool thanks will have a look !

www.direct.gov.uk/maternity.dsb

If you follow this link it will take you through a questionnairre about when you can start your mat leave, then at the end of it there will be a letter you can print out to give to your employer telling them when you intend to leave and for how long.

For any other rights you need to know search for Statuary maternity leave
hope you can find what you need. Dont let your employers pull the wool over your eyes, while you are on maternity leave you do accrue holiday and you should be entitled to use that at the beggining of your leave....That is what I am doing this time as my sick note ends two weeks before the date i can leave.

Thank you that's really helpful ! I've just spoken to them I will accrue holiday during my leave and I can tag it on the end of my leave so am leaving at 35 weeks think I now have hope to cling to! And that way I can spend time with my other two before she arrives !

You haven't got long til you leave then! :) Just keep counting down the days!
And if the weather stays warm now that'll be even better for you :) x