Help re: when to start mat leave...

[mytime777]

Hi
I am just typing my email to send to My boss tomorrow informing them I'm pregnant ( I'm 14 weeks) and am unsure when to put the date of when I want my mat leave to start.
I'm due 14th dec. do people normally work up until a couple of days before etc?
I am officially based from home but travel in the car an awful lot so guessing that by then I will be working from home full time then so won't be too bad.
Would a week before I'm due be about right?
Thanks

It Will depend how you feel, do you have any holiday that you would want to take? You only need to give them 4 weeks notice of mat leave starting and my company don't ask for the date until you get your matb1just after 20ish weeks hth

I worked up to a week before with my first.

Sitting around at home with nothing to do when you're heavily pregnant seems to make people go a bit crazy. I was very glad to be busy.

You don't need to inform them when you plan to start your leave until 15 weeks before the beginning of the week when your baby is due, I'd avoid giving a definite date so soon and allow yourself more time to make a decision.
There's no "right" to when you 'should' start maternity leave - I think I've read of some people on here going off as early as 33 weeks (or sooner) and some people even working beyond their estimated due date. It really depends on you and how long you realistically think you can manage (and want) to keep working within your role.

I finished 3.5 weeks before DD was due and had her 4 days later . So much for sitting around reading magazines, eating cake and watching daytime TV!

But more seriously, see how you feel nearer the time. In my experience people seem to go off about 2-4 weeks before their due date, but it depends on the job and how you're feeling - lots of people are fit & well and feeling sprightly right up to the last moment, others suffer from lack of sleep and want a rest from a physically demanding job (I felt grim as I had really terrible oedema, constant UTIs and couldn't sleep - was so relieved to get baby out nice and early!)

When you go for your 20 week scan ask for a matb1 this is the official notification of pregnancy and right to mat leave. Needs to be in by 25 weeks pregnant. (15 weeks before exprcted week of confinement EWC) They then have 8 weeks to write back confirming when your leave will end, what pay holiday benefits etc you get. It's really all going to depend on how you feel which is hard to know. I too do a sales type role and worked until 38 weeks although I did less towards the end (driving )

If your hol year runs jan to dec will you have any left? You could do a week hol and then start mat leave A week before due date?
As pregnancy and childbirth is not an exact science then if you say you will work to 38 weeks but then end up feeling crap at 32 and wanting to go on leave early then I didn't think there was a notice period as such, it's 'as much as possible'
If I were you I would tell boss your happy news but don't worry about the official email till you have the matb1 around 20/21/22 weeks. Congrats by the way

Thanks for the replies.
So am I right in thinking I don't need to tell then yet when I intend starting my maternity leave until 15 weeks before due date ( August for me) ?

Also to add another question into the mix ( you're all so knowledgeable) if I take the whole year statutory maternity leave (52 weeks ), do I get mat pay for all of it ( my work only pay stat mat pay nothing else) ?
( I'm a newbie to all this)

Yes your right you do not need to say now, in terms of stat mat pay, its paid at 6 weeks at 100%???? And then up to week 39 at the basis rate the government website has all the information you Will need x

Yep you don't need to decide on the date you're starting your mat leave yet, or you can give a date then change your mind later. I think you get SMP for 39 weeks and the final 13 weeks are unpaid, that's what I got anyway!

Thanks ladies. Youve all been a massive help. I think I have it all now.
I'm just going to email them that I'm pregnant , include my edd and inform them that I'll give them my mat b1 when I get It in 6-7 weeks and that I'll inform them about maternity leave etc when I have decided.

Regarding length of mat leave and pay, one more question... just say I tell them I want the 52 weeks but then decide next year that I need to go back earlier ( probably due to running out of cash am I able to go back earlier provided I give them notice?

( on thinking about it it may be best opting for the 39 weeks then use my holidays at the end ( my holiday runs jan- December so come August when I have to return ill have a while years worth outstanding )

You should be able to go back early but will have to give notice, I think my work required 4 weeks notice. This page should help you figure out your entitlements.

First time around I went at 35 weeks & was more than ready to go by then. Only had 4 weeks though as son was a week early!

This time I'm officially starting maternity leave the day before my due date but have 5 weeks holiday to use up. Haven't put it all in writing yet so can still change my mind. I don't think you have to say finally until you hand in your Mat B1 form which you get around 24 weeks?

Stat pay is 6 weeks at 90% of your average weekly wage then a further 33 weeks at SMP

You mention about driving if your role is sales based and you get bonuses commission etc this all adds to the mix to give you a better average. The average is taken over the two months around 26 weeks pg (if monthly paid) if weekly or you get the same each month then easier.
You are assumed to be off for 52 weeks. If you want to go back early, 8 weeks notice. Your contractual notice period applies if you aren't going back at all. You are also entitled to ALL your contractual and stat hol pay over 52 weeks so if your hol year runs jan - Dec you could in theory not go back until jan 2014 but be paid your holiday from November 2013 iyswim
If you get a company car, bupa, pension contribution etc you are entitled to all of this but not sure if it's just for 39 weeks. Basically with the exeption of pay and some other cash benefit (remuneration) your employment and contractual rights are as if you are at work.
Check out direct.gov.uk its pretty thorough.

Thanks so much ladies. I sent my email off this morning. It's done!! Phew! I can breathe now and it's now officially official
I also got a congrats from hr and md which I didn't expect!