Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

Original poster

Tactics for negotiating maternity leave

13 replies

nh101 · 06/03/2007 10:48

I am only 11+0 but you never know when your boss might ask you your thoughts on maternity leave...

I want to have the whole year off and then go back two days a week (I have to go back for at least six months to keep my extra maternity pay). But I know I don't have to tell them all that from the start. But is it best to be up front about what I want or play it tactically. I know I don't even have to tell them I want the whole year off. Does anyone know what the rules are regarding this?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

DetentionGrrrl · 06/03/2007 10:51

you don't have to decide for definate until you are actually off. so, if you say you want 6mths off now, but decide you want a year later, you can.

personally, i wouldn't say anything until you are closer to being due, because you don't have to. if they press you on it (which they shouldn't) just say you haven't decided yet, or you're still working out the details with your DH/DP.

you may want 2 days at this point- but you could give them the green light to make plans about your position, and if you decide to do more hours, who knows what'll happen?

I told my boss i intended to work until 2wks before my due date, and take 10 mths off. i didn't say what hrs i was coming back on until i was off.

taylormama · 06/03/2007 10:52

i would say it very much depends on the relationship you have with your boss and the size of company. If you are going to have a whole year off and know that now i would tell your boss when the time is right - they need to organise cover etc.
I would check your contract to see what your responsibilities are to your employer. You have to let them know around 15 weeks before your EDD (that could be wrong) that you are pregnant and want to take maternity leave - you have to do this in writing. You can begin maternity leave from 11 weeks before your EDD (again check it out)
I think it is better to be honest ...

puddleduck2001 · 06/03/2007 10:55

You have to tell them by the time you are 25 weeks approx, the date you intend to take leave from. They have to assume you are taking your full entitlement unless you tell them otherwise but you can change your mind. You can change the date you start ML by giving them 28 days notice as well. They will need your Mat B1 form which MW gives you at around 20 weeks ish. \link{http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Workingparents/DG_10029290}
this may help, may have to copy and paste as the link is too tricky for me lol.

Original poster

nh101 · 06/03/2007 10:58

DetentionGrrl - when during my maternity leave would I have to tell them that I want to come back part-time?

It is quite a big company and it is the sort of job where every day is separate from the last and the next, pretty much. eg. work comes in, gets completed and is gone again within a couple of hours and there are lots of casual staff here so cover wouldnt be a problem.

You are right I might change my mind about two days so i think I should maybe wait - when is the latest I can tell them?

OP posts:

bran · 06/03/2007 10:59

Check the terms and conditions of your contract, in my company if you return for fewer days then you have to pay back a proportion of the extra pay.

How is the company attitude towards others working part-time? I think if you are already sure that you only want to come back 2 days a week then it might help them to know that, but I would mention it informally and not confirm it in writing until towards the end of your leave as you may have a change of heart.

ThisFrogIsGonnaWhoopYouAss · 06/03/2007 11:05

Hi there.

I personally would leave it as late as possible to tell them you want to go flexi-time. I have just come back from my second maternity leave and was planning on coming back 3 days a week, but decided to come back full time and see how it was, and two months in, so far so good.

I would also indicate to them that you do plan on taking a long maternity leave - by rights you only have to give 28 days notice of your return to work, but I think it's only fair to give them enough information to be able to find cover for you for the duration.

You can find out about your statutory rights here

DetentionGrrrl · 06/03/2007 11:42

the company themselves will usually have a policy- i also work for a large company. They asked that i let them know in writing at least 30 days before i planned to return.

Original poster

nh101 · 06/03/2007 11:45

My contract says I have to pay back maternity pay if I "leave the company within 6 months". It doesn't say I have to come back and do the hours I was doing before. I asssumed that was because they have to consider flexible working. I want to give them a lot of notice so they can plan but I don't want to give them too much info in case they use it to engineer a way to get rid of me! I don't think they would cos I am good at my job and it is difficult to get good reliable people to do this job round here but I have had some difficulties over the last year related to covering someone else's position for no extra pay (I eventually won a £2,000 payment) so it is not like they love me at my work! I am also the union rep, another sure sign that they will try to get rid of you! But I am no pushover which they know so I don't think they;ll try anything too shady.

OP posts:

Original poster

nh101 · 06/03/2007 11:52

My contract has maternity and flexible working as two separate parts. It doesn't say in the maternity part what to do if you wish to come back on different hours. It does say what to do to apply for flexible hours, but not the time frame. I can check with HR nearer the date cos I am pretty sure I won't be coming back full time (one hour commute each way, don't finish till six)

OP posts:

kiteflying · 07/03/2007 14:53

If I were you I would leave the flexible working issue until you were on the brink of coming back. As you say, you have already had some issues over the past year and you don't want things to stack up against your business case even before you take long leave. You are not obliged to discuss anything more than the length of time you want off.

Original poster

nh101 · 07/03/2007 15:13

Yes, I think you are right. Thanks.

OP posts:

abgirl · 07/03/2007 15:19

nh101, your work only have to consider your request for flexible work, you don't have an automatic right to it. After a year on leave you are entitled to return to a job of the same status on the same pay, but not necessarily the same job. I would think about putting in your request for flexible working about 3 months before you plan to return - that way there is time to resolve any issues and come to an arrangement if your work turn down your request for flexible working.

Original poster

nh101 · 07/03/2007 16:07

abgirl, thanks I think 3 months before I return is an ideal time to bring up flexible working. I think they will have a good idea that is what I will want to do anyway cos my DH earns quite good money and they know it is a long commute for me. There are quite a few people who work here doing my job two or three days a week so hopefully it won't be a problem (unless they WANT to get rid of me which is what I am scared of - only a bit though)

OP posts:

Flip