Going on maternity leave.

[Lara78]

Hello,

I'm a bit confused and I wonder if somebody could help with two questions:

1/Can I take maternity leave before my due date? I thought I could but I agent to my company's HR department and they said I can only take it one day after my due day or I give birth.

I read on the gov.uk you can take it up to 11 weeks before the due date so it confuses me.

I'm due on the 3rd of March and I want my last day to be the 28th of February. Apparently is not possible. But then at the same time I heard many mamas who took it weeks and even months before.

2/Am I entitled ti my holiday pay next year even if I'm not coming back to work? The company I work for is a bit doggy and given me no information regarding this. So I'm asking and they said I can used it next year but what if next year they say I'm not entitled?

Thanks in advance for any responses.

You can start maternity leave any day from 11 weeks before your due date, so they're talking nonsense.

You can absolutely start your maternity leave before your due date.

You continue to accrue holiday while on mat leave, so if you leave the company you should be paid for any holiday that’s been accrued but not taken. I was when I left my last job at the end of my maternity leave a couple of years ago.

You need to be careful with the not coming back bit as you may have to pay some of your mat leave back. You do accure holiday when on maternity leave.

Yes, you’ll have to pay back any enhanced maternity pay, not statutory. But from the sounds of your company I’d guess they don’t offer enhanced mat pay?