Length of Mat leave - do you commit upfront?

[ellecf21]

I've just given my notice for when I intend to start my mat leave and wondered if anyone knew whether I have to commit to how long I'll take up front or not? None of the forms I filled in asked me but feel like my manager wants to know. I'd rather wait until baby is here to see how I feel with regards to how long but wanted to understand my rights and how it all works (it's quite confusing - FTM!)

I initially took nine months but by the eighth month I wasn't ready to go back and neither was my baby, so I spoke to my boss and extended it another three months.

Check your companies policy, most you don't.
I committed but it's because I know in my role sorting the maternity cover is a bit of a mare, and I like being organised and certain. I've even got a kit day booked in...baby isn't born yet 😂

I was a teacher when DS was born. Throughout my pregnancy I was convinced I’d be going back when he was ten weeks ish. Changed my mind on that one pretty sharpish!!

It will be in your company maternity policy. At mine, the assumption is that you'll take 12 months, with return at any point before that with 8 weeks notice. Mainly, because no one really knows how long they will want to take, it's really all theoretical until your baby arrives and you see how you feel.

(Although I work in the NHs - so officially it's 8 weeks notice of return, in practice I'd probably arrange it in as quickly as week using managers discretion because we don't get maternity cover, and chances are return would start with a big chunk of annual leave thats accumulated while on maternity leave).

Realistically it will also depend on if you want a change or pattern or hours on return - you'd want to get a flexible working request in sooner rather than later for childcare purposes if that's something you were needing to sort.

You shouldn't have to commit to a precise date but if you know whether you'll use your AL to cover you in the unpaid bit or are planning to take the unpaid bit and then AL you could always share that. I go on maternity leave this week and have said I'll be off around a year so pencil me in to return late March early April. I was asked what my intentions are with my hours, as currently part time and I did say I genuinely have no idea, as I don't. I think be as helpful as you can but if you really don't know be honest.

You generally have to give a date (or your employer might just have a policy to assume a year) but it doesn’t really matter. As long as you give 8 weeks notice, you can move it forwards or backwards.

I had to pick a date i wanted to return which went on all the paperwork, but i could vary it with 8 weeks notice. I've taken 10months mat leave with 1 month of Annual Leave tagged on the end.

One thing i would say is that I started a MN thread about when to start mat leave and everyone told me to work for as long as possible as first babies are always late DD came along at 38w exactly and I'd barely started my mat leave, let alone done any batch cooking or cleaning! So my top tip is to make sure you've left yourself some time before the birth as well!

I'm nhs and I am saying a year and then I can bring it forward if I like, I just think it's easier and more considerate to bring it forward than extend it. I had 13 months off last time so Expecting the same again this time.

Does it change if by you’re doing shared parental leave? Do you have to commit to a handover date then?