Notice of mat leave could some one help me with dates

[SweetPea86]

Hi this is my first baby and I'm totally clueless.

I'm 24 weeks now due on the 17th or April and I want to take my maternity early at 29 weeks.

Can some one tell me when that would start I keep scanning the calender and I'm not sure.

I don't really want to go on mat so early but I'm still suffering with sickness and I've got spd and a trapped nerve in my bum. My job means me standing on my feet 6 days a week for 40 hours and quite frankly I'm wrecked lol.

When I write my letter to notify work to I have to put my leaving date ( which is what I'm stuck on) and then do I have to tell them how many weeks and returning date in the letter

Sorry I'm a little all over the place lately lol

Hi Op. Have you already provided your employers with a MatB form?

If you aren't feeling fit for work can't your GP sign you off sick as opposed to taking your Mat leave so early?

I would get your gp to sign you off sick as any pregnancy related sickness can't legally be counted against you. If you were still off at 34wks then that would automatically trigger your mat leave entitlement instead of sick pay.

I would check asap how much notice you have to give your work of intended mat leave date, as they can refuse stat mat pay if not enough in advance I think.

Hey yes I handed my mat b in about 2 weeks ago :) I no I sound daft but were iWork there's lots of people on sick at mo so I would rather start mat work have been so good to me last few months I just want to leave so they can get proper cover

I finally got on to the direct gov website and it says I can leave on the 26th January as long as I give notice by 4th of January so going to hand it in tomorrow a few days before dead line

It's 36 weeks not 34 weeks before sick pay becomes maternity pay unless it's changed very recently, but aside from that I agree completely over getting yourself signed off sick!

It's obvious your condition won't improve before the birth, so they'd be safe to arrange a more permanent cover for you so you wouldn't be messing them about. You'll be gone until the birth no matter what the legal reason is.

It's lovely when a company has been kind to you, but when it comes to redundancies etc, they will be looking out for themselves just as you should be looking out for yourself now. They won't hold it against you!

I agree with previous posters, I've been off sick for 10 weeks now and work are happy for me to get 4 week sick lines - it means they can get cover in for me and don't have to shuffle things to and fro to make sure they have enough staff. Speak to your GP and your work and see whether you can't work out an alternative!