Can I go on holiday before maternity leave?

[yayanothernamechange]

So I’m due on the 11th Feb and I am scheduled to go on maternity leave on the 8th Feb. When I pre arranged it I felt absolutely fine and thought I could manage. I’m finding work super stressful, I’ve been having horrendous cramps and am exhausted but I don’t see baby arriving any time soon.

I only get SMP and so was thinking I could take holiday the 4th - 8th Feb then start maternity leave. Has anyone done this and is it allowed?

In an ideal world I would have been able to save more but this hasn’t happened

As far as I am aware, this is absolutely permitted. The only issue is if you go off sick within 4 weeks of due date, you'll have to take maternity early. But annual leave is completely fine and completely normal to take to bolster leave.

I did this. Offcially started MAT leave a week before the baby was due. But used 2 weeks holiday before that. So actually finished work 3 weeks before.

Oh and then I tacked on what I had accrued to the end of MAT leave too so I got paid for those too.

Totally normal to do this. I’m using some of my leave to go down to 4 days a week for my last month before I go on mat leave, and then taking a week of holiday before ML officially starts

Absolutely fine. As long as there is leave available (e.g. some places only allow 2 people off at once etc).

I kept my 28 days holidays for before ml started. No issue.

Yeah I did it both times, 2 weeks holiday then mat leave started . You can definitely do it, just weather or not they'll say yes to your holidays if there are others off at the same time etc. But I'm sure they'll sort something out if you're struggling . With my second I changed my finishing up date quite last minute , I just couldn't bare being there anymore so went off a week earlier than we'd arranged

I had two weeks holiday before starting each maternity leave. standard practice at most workplaces as otherwise you have loads of holidays accrued when get back. I gave birth 40 minutes into my first day of mat leave so it's probably good I did

It would depend if you had any holidays owing left for this financial year.
If you have already used your entitlement then you won't have any hols left.
If you have then speak to boss asap.

Thanks all! My holiday runs from 1st - 31st December and I’ve only used two days. Assuming my boss approves it but I think they will.

If your leave runs calendar year and you’ve not rolled over any you’d need to work out what you’ve accrued. My work wouldn’t let you take what you hadn’t accrued - ie. I’m due in Feb, have been on leave from 27th Dec but mat leave started on 8th Jan. But I will continue to accrue leave between jan and end of March and then between April and when I go back to work which I will then take before returning. Just depends on how they work it.

Good luck!

Yep I'm doing exactly that in fact I'm taking 3wks hols before mat leave kicks in mid Feb. I fact this week coming is my last week!!!

It's fine. I'm planning to do this too! Baby is due 9th March, maternity leave doesn't start until the 23rd Feb. I'm taking a weeks annual leave beforehand.

Yep, fine to do this. I’m doing the same, maternity leave starts 11th March but I have all my holidays to use before April so I’m physically leaving on 22nd Feb and using annual leave until March.

Yes but if you give birth early your mat leave starts(ie your maternity pay) right away and holiday gets added on at the end