Quick Q about holiday when on Mat leave!

[owltrousers]

Hello!

So I didn't realise until now that you actually accrue holiday when you are on maternity leave. My holiday resets in October and I am due to go on Maternity leave on 4th December and then return on 25th September 2018. Does this mean I can plonk my whole holiday allowance for next year onto the front / back of my maternity leave?

You can request it. Up to the company to accept or decline it.

I know a lot of people who do this and most companies accept as they do not want employees carrying on too many holidays etc

I did this but I had to agree it with manager in advance in case busy time etc. I get paid or extra days added for public holidays too so maybe check if you get that too

It depends on the policy but yes usually although your maternity leave will automatically start when your baby is born so if you want to take some before you might want to split it depending how long you want before baby comes. They have to carry it over to your next leave year even if that’s not the normal policy

Also - what happens if you decide not to return to work, is the holiday still valid, you don't have to repay it or anything do you?

I'm 28 weeks and my employer is only letting me add 2 weeks to the end of my maternity. Its up to your employer

I'm doing this. Maternity ends in November. I'm back in the office in January as using all my holiday.

Yes. Most people do this and many companies prefer it to you coming back then swanning off in multiple holidays throughout the year.

Personally I agreed to use it to work 4 days a week only for a few months (i.e. Used one day per week). But of course accepting or declining holiday is for your employer to decide.

They cannot however apply any policy which would cause you to 'lose' that holiday without a reasonable opportunity to use it.

That or I used my extra holidays to go back part time for a few months whilst still having some reserved for a holiday in January. But where I work you get 30 days leave a year and because of how it ended up I was returning with about 50 days to take.

Yep I'm taking mine in a big chunk at the end of my maternity leave, it gives me an extra 6 weeks.

I used mine in a large chunk at beginning of mat leave which meant I could finish at 33 weeks. I'll return towards the end of next Sept and will still have all of 2018 leave to use.

Yes, subject to the business requirements.

First time around, I used my holiday to stagger my return to work - I went back three days per week for a month, then four days a week for two months before returning full time.

Second time I was due in April. Our holiday year ran Jan-Dec, so I tacked on my holiday and bank holidays (7 days) before I started mat leave. I left on the 1st Feb, was paid for 7 weeks to near the end of March and then my maternity leave started at 37 weeks.

I had all 4 weeks of holiday (at normal pay!) at the end of maternity leave, as otherwise I would have had just a couple of months back with a full year's allowance to use up, and it would have been more hassle for my company. It was great!

Mine wanted me to use up my holiday entirely at both ends. So I took all my A/L owed directly before maternity leave. I also take the entirety of my accrued A/L at the end of my maternity leave before I return to work.