Starting maternity leave on furlough

[babyin2020]

I'm on furlough with my work hoping to reopen on the 5th July but could change. I will be 33 weeks.

Do you think 33 weeks is too early for maternity leave?

I wanted to stay on furlough as long as possible to have extra time with baby but I'm unsure on the dates as they keep changing the expected opening date but they want a date I plan to start maternity asap.

Can't decide!

I’d want more time after birth than before.

I left work at 36 weeks and had 2 weeks paid holiday. Mat leave started at 38 weeks.

If I had my time over I wouldn’t change it even with the pandemic.

I went on mat leave at 38 weeks... and then DD was 2 weeks late. It was the most boring month of my life and I wish I'd been at work. Even now, I'd work up to at least 38 weeks in the hope that the rest of my mat leave wS relatively normal

Do you have any holiday days owing?

do you know for certain that you'll definitely be returning? I think I'll be taking mine before 33 weeks but I have holidays to use up.

I finished at 36 weeks and DS was 2 weeks late. I was bored silly. Next time I plan to finish at around 38 weeks x

They keep changing the date that the company is opening so it's hard to pick a date. I originally said I'd like to remain on furlough for as long as possible and go onto maternity leave when the company eventually does open.

I'm thinking if I give them the date they have stated to return to work and they change it I'm using maternity time for nothing.

My first baby was born at 36 weeks.

I'm currently on furlough, baby is due on 5th September and I'm due to have my last day at "work" on 31st July. The plan is and always has been to have 4 weeks of annual leave, then start statutory maternity leave on 31st August.

I'm definitely furloughed until 30th June, but I'm really hoping that they extend my furlough for one more month as I really don't see the point of going back for 4 weeks only just to leave again!

I’m on furlough at the moment but possibly returning to work in the next few weeks . I’m 16 weeks pregnant. In the covid19 risk assessment that is shared with my company , you are allowed to request to stay on furlough if you are considered vulnerable or live with someone who is vulnerable
( (Mind you , my job is a people facing role ).

Have you spoken with your company to see if you can stay on furlough ? It would be odd for them to say no as it costs them nothing. Unless you can work from home and then I can see why they would say no .

@babyin2020 My work are fairly confident that when they reopen there will be the opportunity to leave any vulnerable staff on furlough for longer.

If I were you I would give a date for when you would ideally like to start Mat leave - maybe 37/38 weeks? Hopefully they’ll have the option to leave you on furlough until then. If not then you could then request an early start to your maternity just saying you don’t feel comfortable returning given the current situation?