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Original poster

Maternity leave

8 replies

Aaliyah1 · 27/12/2013 17:37

Sooo if I decide I don't want to go back to my job during maternity leave do I have to pay the money I've received back? Or it there a minimum you have to work after mat leave?
I'm just worried as I know I would like to change jobs so will probs be looking for other positions etc...confused...
And I could ask HR but everyone at work is very clique and I don't want them to think I've already decided not to go back...

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FionasFatFairy · 27/12/2013 17:39

I think the answer here is it depends.

If you receive only statutory maternity pay you do not have to repay if you do not return. If your employer offers better pay, then I would check the staff handbook. This should be available to all employees.

oadcb · 27/12/2013 17:39

Did did you get more than SSP?

OccamsRaiser · 27/12/2013 18:28

Not all places that have enhanced maternity pay require you to pay it back if you don't return (my old work, for example, had a policy that they hoped you would return but no hard feelings if you did not - and that was 18 weeks at full pay)

Really, the only way to know is to check your policy/employment handbook or ask HR.

Cariad007 · 27/12/2013 18:39

At my work it's 26 weeks on full pay that I'll have to pay back if I don't return to work for a minimum of 3 months. However 6 weeks of those 3 months I will be taking as annual leave, so it's more like just under 2 months. Most places I've worked for that pay enhanced maternity require you to return for a bit. Does your employer not have an employee handbook you could consult?

BlingBubbles · 27/12/2013 18:43

It should be stated in your maternity leave policy, all companies are different, at my company for example we got 16 weeks half pay and we had to return to work for 3 months after maternity leave or would have to pay it back, however, you could opt to take it after your leave ended if you weren't certain if you were going back or not.

Just ask HR for the policy.

Original poster
Aaliyah1 · 27/12/2013 19:21

I have read the policy and it wasn't mentioned in there. Someone mentioned it today that a friend had had to pay it back. I hadn't even thought of it Blush just wanted to check it wasn't a general and obvious thing that id missed.
I think I'm ok, 6 weeks full pay, 6 weeks 90% then SSP. And from the work maternity literature it dosent seem that if have to pay it back. Will check with HR though just to be sure.
Thanks Guys!

OP posts:
dimdommilpot · 27/12/2013 19:27

At my work you dont have to pay it back if your intention was to go back.
At a friends place you have to go back a minimum of 3mo ths so as not to pay it back.
At another friends place if you leave within a year you have to pay it back.
Ask your employer, they are all different.

Rockchick1984 · 27/12/2013 21:14

If you do have to pay it back it would only be the 6 weeks full pay, they can't ask for SSP to be repaid.

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