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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Maternity Leave Advice

40 replies

Kranky123 · 28/08/2017 17:11

Hi all,

We are thinking of having a baby and are both very excited about this!

One thing though we have thought of is about maternity leave.

I am on a fixed term contract that ends in July 2018. It was renewed last year and I would be equally as confident that it would be renewed once more.

However, my problem is this.

If I were to fall pregnant, say in September this year. That would be a June due date.

Last year my contract was renewed in June. So I could theoretically, reach my due date next year and still not have had it renewed.

If this were the case, would I still be able to say to my employers that I planned on taking 6 months for maternity leave before my due date? Even though my contract wouldn't have actually been extended at that point.

How would this work?

Hope this makes sense!

Thank you

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Original poster

Kranky123 · 28/08/2017 20:06

I would also have to give 28 days notice of the leave wouldn't I?

So if I was due in May, I could ask in April and hope that contract was renewed by then.

OP posts:

TittyGolightly · 28/08/2017 20:08

Off the top of my head you need to give 8 weeks notice of maternity leave.

TittyGolightly · 28/08/2017 20:09

And you'd need to notify them of your pregnancy by your 25th week.

Original poster

Kranky123 · 28/08/2017 20:10

www.atl.org.uk/Images/ARK%20Maternity%20Policy.pdf

This is my company's policy.

Thank you for your help so far!

OP posts:

Batteriesallgone · 28/08/2017 20:11

As other people have said, they run into various employment obligations once you're over 2 years of employment. Are you really sure they will want to employ you beyond Sep 2018? And if they do, wouldn't they just offer you a permanent position?

Have you asked around about the likelyhood of a permanent position? Is it worth holding out for and delaying TTC?

Phineyj · 28/08/2017 20:11

I would recommend seeing a employment lawyer. I was in a complicated contractual situation when I got pregnant and their advice helped me to avoid problems. It cost a few hundred quid but then, losing your job is very expensive!

TittyGolightly · 28/08/2017 20:13

That's all completely standard

Original poster

Kranky123 · 28/08/2017 20:22

Doesn't that policy stipulate 1 months notice needed to be given rather than 2?

OP posts:

DeliciouslyHella · 28/08/2017 20:23

If you're a teacher or teaching assistant (I'm guessing there's a good chance you are, given who your employer is), contact your union for advice.

I'm a teacher and have had a slightly complex scenario for my maternity leave this time. My union cleared it up with one phone call.

TittyGolightly · 28/08/2017 20:24

It says you need to notify of your intended dates at week 25, so no. Not 1 month.

TittyGolightly · 28/08/2017 20:26

The month is if you then want to change your dates.

Original poster

Kranky123 · 28/08/2017 20:29

So if I signed a contract in May, I could let them know one day that I wanted to change my date before my contract expired in July.

OP posts:

TittyGolightly · 28/08/2017 20:31

You've lost me now. A simple concept has become very complicated!

MaverickSnoopy · 29/08/2017 07:11

You need to let them know you are pregnant and when you are taking leave by week 25. If you wanted you could let them know you are pregnant earlier than that and confirm your date later.

You need to separate the issues of maternity leave and your contract renewal. For example when you inform them (say on 1 April) of mat leave you could say that you want to start mat on 1 June. It may be that on 1 Apr your contract renewal has not been discussed and they may decide there is no point extending as you won't be there. In that case they would ask when you want to start mat leave and you say 1 June. You start mat leave on 1 June and it ends on 31 July because you have no further contract with them. They then pay you any outstanding smp as a lump sum and you are now unemployed. You will no longer be on mat leave as you are no longer employed, but because you were entitled to it you have the smp and you can look for another job when you return to work.

Scenario 2 is that you tell them you are pregnant and at some point they decide to renew your contract. You inform them at some point of mat leave and you go on mat leave.

I think what you are worrying about is the timings and informing them of ALL of the leave you want to take when your contract has not yet been renewed. You can't. All you can do is tell them when you want it to start. You have to assume that you won't be returning because your contract will have ended. You don't need to tell them your planned return to work date unless they extend your contract and ask for it.

What previous posters are trying to say is that you might want to consider your timings so that you are early pregnancy when your contract is extended and then you tell them you are pregnant. You then start mat leave in your new contract and return in the same contract, ready for it to be renewed again.

It's not impossible for a contract to be renewed when someone goes on mat leave, but can you see that it's not always beneficial to the employer. They usually have to recruit a replacement for a short period. So it would be easier for them to end your contract, to wait a while and have someone else doing a variation of your job.

Does that make a bit more sense?

MaverickSnoopy · 29/08/2017 07:14

I did put paragraphs in but they don't seem to have come up!

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