No intention of returning to job that pays mat leave.

[silverfishlondon]

I'm handing in maternity leave formdon't ay ( at the very last opportunity). I can't wait to leave this job as been I'd happy recently, and intend to find part time work elsewhere, probably starting from 6 months after baby. My maternity leave and pay rights and all standard, nothing extra offered for returning.
To make it a little more awkward I'd only been here 3 months before getting pregnant, tho I'd been ttc for 6 months before while I was self employed. I did plan to work here long term, unfortunately recent things have changed that.

So:
Does the amount I'll get paid change if I tell them from the outset I'm not returning? It would actually be doing them a favor to know I wasn't coming back as they could find a permanent, not temporary replacement, and work out cheaper. I don't want to mess them around. Temps are expensive in my job.

If I tell them from the outset that I'll only want part time flexible work and they don't want to offer this, then im good as said I'm not coming back.. right?

Once I start any other part time work, SMP stops. But first id have to give notice. Then want to use up the annual leave i had accrued. Is that correct? I can often get temp work at v short notice.

Should I keep my options open as I may actually appreciate a familiar job to return to?

Thanks for any answers or ideas. I dont like feeling guilty about mat leave but want best for my family.

I have the same dilemma. From speaking to friends, do not tell them you are not returning and don't say about wanting part time. A month before end of your mat leave you can say I want to come back but with our new stuation only part time will work, if they cant offer it give your months notice and leave. If you want to quit completely, just give a months notice. If you want to go back full time you can.

You have no idea how you will feel so keep you options open and don't do anything to jeopardise it. I think we all accrue holiday pay during mat leave as well so that's another reason to not tell them anything yet :)

^i second this as well. Anything could happen between now and the end of your mat leave. It's worth keeping options open.

no don't tell them. The only thing you need to be aware of is that if you get any maternity pay above SMP you may be required to pay it back if you don't return so you should make provision for that.

Fwiw I left a job which paid six months maternity on full pay with no intention of ever going back. I then extended that to six months AML and then a two year career break before officially resigning. And my boss negotiated so that didn't have to pay back my mat pay, but I would have if I'd had to.

No, I wouldn't tell them a thing personally. You don't know how you will feel after you have your LO arrives and you are certainly not obliged to tell them what your plans are at this stage. Even if you think this is doing them a favour, most reputable companies won't want you to tell them.

As *Wannabe" says, some companies have a nasty policy which is of no benefit to either party policy which means you have to pay back any pay above SMP if you choose not to return to work. Though, I think from your OP that your company doesn't have this.