Maternity Leave and Employers

[BabySweet85]

Hi - does anybody know how much notice I need to give my employer of when I want to start maternity leave? I am thinking of starting it quite early.

Discuss with your HR and manager.

AFAIK you need to notify them of your pregnancy and intention to take maternity leave no later than 15 weeks before the estimated week of delivery, i.e. before 25 weeks pregnancy. This is the case in my job (secondary school), might be different in other professions, I don't know. If you want to go earlier than "usual", I'm sure they'd appreciate more notice. The earliest you can start is at 29 weeks pregnant. Don't forget you will need your MATB1 form, which you can get from your midwife (I think from about 20 weeks onwards). Good luck!

The deadline to tell them by is 15 weeks before due date but if you already know you want to start early you could tell them any time? I work in HR and most people tell us their initial ideas around 20 weeks but maybe update as things change eg lots of people end up wanting to go earlier than they originally planned!

As said before you'll be able to get your MATB1 form from week 20. legally you have to have told your employer by week 25 and you can only start your maternity as early as week 29 (most employers have a rule which day you have to give around 28 days notice of the date you want your maternity to begin) do check your companies policy to see if they've thrown in any extra rules but above is the legal requirements.