Maternity leave - wwyd

[Becca1818]

Hi ladies I need your expertise again!

So first baby is due 9th feb and I will only be entitled to smp. My manager has just asked when I want to start my mat leave (in front of my colleagues) and she suggested I start when we break up for Xmas (20th dec - 5th jan) but this will mean I will have to use 5 weeks before baby is born even longer if he's late. I want to start or aim for 23rd jan as long as I feel ok. Wwyd?

X

She cannot ask when you are starting mat leave until you provide MATB1 form this is provided by midwife at 25weeks then you request mat leave start date and they have to assume you are taking a year off - you then have to give 8weeks notice if you want to return before a year.

I can't really add anything more to what others have said, but I too am due on Feb 9th and plan on starting Mat Leave on 23rd January. I had no idea before hand but most mums I work with have said 38 weeks would be OK. I'm taking over a weeks worth of annual leave from this year which will give me 6 weeks to use next year which I plan on tagging onto my mat leave to extend it to around 9 months (As suggested by HR, I wish I could afford the full 52 weeks)

I'm due on 1 Feb and my last day will be 24 Dec. I've gone for that because I'd have to work over the Christmas period and fancy a year off doing that. I also know that I'm having an ELCS so won't get to my due date.

When I had DD, I was signed off work at 29 weeks and DD was 2 weeks late. I found that quite nice, but it mostly didn't eat into my ML as it just counted as sick leave and I got paid. I don't have as much travel or commuting time in my current job, so I am hoping to be able to work longer.

I'd take practicalities such as your commute into consideration when making your decision.

I'm going off on Friday at 39 weeks. Boss was informed when I handed in my matb1. He wasn't happy, but stuff him.

He wasn't happy it was so late? You'd think that would be better!