Keeping in touch days (KIT days)

[TTCmay]

I had a meeting with HR yesterday to discuss mat leave etc, inc these KIT days- I know nothing about these and know no one who has taken them.

I like the idea of them as I would really like some extra cash when on SMP (not because I desperately want to come into work!)

I am just now sure how they work in terms of the child you have just given birth to ! I wouldn't be able to bring it in and dont have family nearby - probably have a few friends who could help but my commute to work is an hour each way and wouldnt want to leave a baby for too long!

Also I intend to exclusively breastfeed (as I did with DC1) so in reality can only be away from baby for 4 hours max until at least 6 months.

Any ideas/experience?

Thanks

You don't have to take KIT days so if you couldn't sort childcare then the easiest thing to do is not take them! Alternatively could your partner take the odd day as holiday to look after the baby? They can be taken at any time so you could do them once baby is older, how long are you planning on taking for maternity leave? What is your childcare arrangement once you return?

You would have to find suitable childcare, but as Rockchick has said, you also don't need to work them. Your employer doesn't have to pay you a days rate for them either - it could form part of your SMP, so check that in advance anyway.

You could work your KIT days later in your mat leave when you have weaned or can leave the baby for a bit longer. Also, as Rockchick said, what about your DH? Can he take some annual leave to care for his child while you have a day at work?

I took a number, and they were a life saver financially, but when my baby was a bit older and more predictable (plus I work close to home if it had all gone belly up and I needed to get home). My mum looked after her. You wld need reliable childcare, a friend who your baby wld recognise and be comfortable with, or you could tag them on right at the end of the mat leave and when your baby has a day or so as whatever childcare facilty u intend to use when you go back to work. Or simply not take them if none of this is feasible... Good luck

Thanks all. Taking 9 months off, including 2-4 weeks before baby arrives.

I do want to take some for financial reasons, just need to think about child care a bit better. DP could take holiday i guess.

My employer said they would pay the equivalent of a days pay, in addition to my maternity pay.