Does anyone know if you have to start mat leave if you're Doc signs you off sick?

[Loucee]

Hi

Does anyone know if you're signed off as sick by the Doctor until your Due date, will your work convert that into you being off on maternity leave?

Thanks

After a certain point - I think it's 6 weeks before the due date - it counts as mat leave. Up till then it's just sick leave.

YEah seem to recall it's either 32 or 34 weeks when it becomes mat leave rather than sick leave.

11 weeks before your due date

I'm sure it wasn't 11 for me. Are you sure that's not the time after which you can start mat leave if you want?

Or is it something that the employer decides rather than the law?

Thanks for your replies, anyone know where I can find out the definite no of wks it would kick in?

In your organisation's maternity leave notes? Is it the kind of organisation that has a HR dept with documents on a website? Or do you have a Personnel dept you can ask?

Kathy - yeah I've read that the earliest you can start maternity leave is from 29 wks pregnant (so 11wks before due date).

Were you signed off sick from work until your due date?

Hi Kathy

Yeah I've trawled through the maternity pack and FAQs from work but it doesn't say about getting signed off for a while, it just says they will pay you full pay if you're off on maternity related sick leave.

I was signed off sick for 4 weeks but that took me up to the time when further sick leave would have counted as mat leave (whether it was 32 weeks or 34 weeks or whatever) so I thought, sod it, I'll just start mat leave early rather than go back to work for a few weeks.

check this

www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/life/employment/maternity_leave_if_your_baby_is_due_before_1_april_2007 .htm

it's under when does ordinary maternity leave start. if you're off on pregnancy-related illness it's starts 4 weeks before baby due.

Thanks Brownsugar! Perfect