Maternity Pay - Do I have to go back to work?

[Singsoul91]

Hi!

Just wondering if anyone knows.

So I've heard that you have to return back to work for so long after maternity or if you don't, you have to pay your maternity back? . Is this true?

I don't want to return to work. Mainly because I don't have the childcare as not really any family. Only my mum but she works different hours.

Another reason because I don't want to be away from the baby.

My partner is on a good wage so we can cope for a while.

I'm on a zero hours contract with work too so I guess I don't have to.

If anyone can advise that would be fab x

It depends on your company, but usually if there’s enhanced maternity pay over your statutory rights, there’s a good chance that there will be a minimum period that you need to return to work for, or pay back the extra pay.

Check your contract to be sure

Whether you have to pay mat pay back depends upon a number of factors - the type of mat pay you have received (enhanced or statutory) and your own employers policies in relation to this. The best thing you can do is contact a HR person at your work and ask them where you stand.

I am only getting the basic 90% for 6 weeks and then SMP for 33 weeks and if i don't return to work i will not need to pay anything back.
If you get enhanced from your company you will more than likely have to pay it back or go back for a certain amount of time, but as PP said check your contract :)

You don’t have to return to work for statutory maternity pay. You may have to if your employer offers an additional ‘enhanced’ maternity package but no-one here can tell you if that is the case without seeing the ts and cs of their maternity policy.

If you are only getting Statutory Maternity Pay then you dont need to pay anything back or return to work

It depends entirely on your contract and whether you are getting enhanced company maternity pay.

If she's only getting SMP then it doesnt matter what's in her contract, she won't need to pay it back. As she's on a zero hours contract I would think it unlikely that she is getting enhanced pay

Okay fab.

I need to speak to my employer but only 16 weeks yet so not heard anything from them about it. I'm guessing you have a chat when you hand in the mat b 1 form.

Can you just get statutory pay instead of enhanced pay or does it depend on the employer?

You always get to keep SMP no matter what and you can opt to only receive that, rather than an enhanced package if you wish to do so.

Aw amazing. Thank you. I didn't think it was an option x

Don't make any definite decisions yet re returning. The world can look v different the other side of a delivery. By all means just take the SMP but don't tell them you're not coming back until you have to.
Also please think about getting married. Your legal position is so much stronger if you're married and anything goes wrong with the relationship. You wouldn't put the baby in a car seat without strapping them in. Don't put yourself in the vulnerable position of carer with no job without some legal 'straps'

Check your contract to see if you are an employee or a worker as a worker doesnt qualify for Statutory Maternity Leave. You should still qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay as long as you meet the other criteria - length of service and earnings rule

Luckily we have all of our HR policies online over our company intranet so I've had chance to examine mine, I have to return to work for 12 weeks if I take "enhanced" mat leave. My enhanced is 12 weeks 100% and 27 weeks SMP instead of 6 weeks 90% and 33 weeks SMP. Also remember any holidays you accrue (in my case 5 weeks worth) will come off how long you have to return for. My husband is also going to have 4 weeks shared parental leave when I return after my holidays. I haven't 100% decided if I'm going to stay, quit or ask for a flexible working arrangement but even if I decide to quit I'll only have to find FT childcare for approx 5 weeks.

OP if you have a really good Enhanced Mat package and only have to return for a short time like 12 weeks I would seriously consider taking it, but as others have said if you've made up your mind you are 100% entitled to stat even if you quit :) xxx

If it's a zero hours contract I very much doubt that they will offer more than SMP

oh another thing do work know about your pregnancy? if you are on zero hours they could potentially screw you over and give you zero hours during your qualifying week, make sure that does not happen! xxx

www.gov.uk/maternity-paternity-calculator

figure out what pay dates they will use with this calculator.

Hi everyone.

Yes they knew before Xmas I was pregnant so don't think they will screw me over with hours.

I won't tell them before I go on maternity that I won't to leave because things might change I might be able to work but initial thinking is I don't want to.

Childcare costs like £40 a day. No point going to work as get about £60 a shift.

I guess I will see how much enhanced is and how long I have to work there back for.

Oh and I'm not planning on getting married. Don't want to be married. Baby costs enough hahaha

Not everywhere offers enhanced. I worked for a high street bank and they only offered SMP

I only got SMP and diddnt have to go back.