Maternity Leave

[xttcbabyno1x]

Quick one

I told my work I'd take just 3 months maternity leave and now I've decided I'd like to take 6 months. I don't think 3 months is long enough.

It's not like I get paid in full, it's statutory..

Am I within my rights to change my mind or am I now set to 3 months! I'm currently 20 weeks pregnant

You can absolutely change your mind. I can't remember the specifics, but you just have to give them a certain amount of notice. Double check it all on the government website. You can also change your mind back and come back early, so long as you give them that notice before.

@Rosegold3112 that's great thank you so much I will have a look and let them know within the next week that I'm wanting to take 6 months!

I've just read 15 weeks before due! So that's fine - just worried about what they'll say and if they'll be angry

You're giving them plenty of notice. You don't even need to notify them that you're pregnant before 20 weeks so don't worry at all.

I wouldn’t commit to how much Mat leave you want before you have your baby. You don’t know how you’ll feel. Once you have baby you probably won’t think 6 months is enough either. Don’t need to decide before you go off. I’m sat with my 7 month old and I’m just discussing a return to work date with my work now.

I’m sure you don’t have to tell them until a week before you were due back.
if just say “I’ve changed my mind about taking 3 months leave, I’ll let you know when I’ll be back by giving the required 4 weeks notice” then you are under no pressure.

@Holeinthetoad @justwantobeamum

Oh no way I didn't know that!!

So I don't even have to tell them yet I can just say when baby is here that I'm not ready to come back! I didn't realise this, they know I'm pregnant and it's not like we've agreed anything financially e.g 3 months full pay, it's literally 6 weeks 90% and then statutory like most companies

OP i think it is 8 weeks notice to change your return to work date. You normally have to specify a date when you notify them as that date is included on the letter HR send you detailing your maternity pay entitlement etc. Most employers should presume you are taking the full 12 months you are entitled to unless you state otherwise.

@Youcancallmeirrelevant ahh ok! I haven't even specified a date I just originally said I'd take 3 months but now regret that because i could have a rough birth etc

My work just assume 12 months and if you want to go back earlier than that you have to give 8 weeks notice. Check your maternity leave policy, it'll say in there.

Yes think my work is the same 8 weeks notice about return date but they also said they’re quite flexible. Your company should have a maternity leave policy all the info should be in that. Don’t commit to anything!

It's a very old fashioned company, only 3 women in the whole company and none of them have had a baby yet so I've never been told about a maternity leave policy!

Statutory maternity leave is a full year so your employer legally must give you 52 weeks. It’s only 9 months paid though. So you can see how you feel and how finances are etc before making a decision on length of time off work

You can take a year and just turn up on your day you're due back, if you want. People do 😬Of course it's much easier for everyone if you give them notice, but you definitely don't need to do that until after you've had the baby.

That's amazing thank you so much! I haven't even got anything in writing / given anything in writing it was just a phone conversation. So I will let them know I'm wanting to take longer and leave it at that! For all I know I could want to get back into work or I may not feel ready!

HR person here - you have to give them at least 8 weeks notice of your return to work date. That's a statutory (legal) requirement.

So fine to say now that you're taking eg 12 or 6 months off and also fine to change your mind when baby arrives BUT you must tell them at least 8 weeks before you're due back.

@AntiqueCestChic thank you so much! So do I need to tell them I'm wanting to take 6 months and if so when do I need to tell them this by? Or can I just leave it as it is and when baby is born say I'm not ready to return? X

The easiest thing to do is to put in for the full 52 weeks then notify 8 weeks in advance if returning early.
I returned both times at 9 months on shared parental leave but used holiday to be off longer.
You can't use holiday or bank holidays whilst on mat leave so this might be a option for you.

So you have to notify your employer of the pregnancy and your intention to take MAT leave by the 15th week before the week your baby is due. Do it in writing - email is fine.

Just follow the guidance on ACAS's site and you can't go wrong. www.acas.org.uk/your-maternity-leave-pay-and-other-rights/telling-your-employer-youre-pregnant

Don't forget to give your employer your MATB1 form - your midwife or Dr gives it to you around 20 weeks. This confirms the pregnancy and they'll need it for your MAT pay.

You're entitled to 12 months MAT leave so just make sure you notify your employer of your intention to return at least 8 weeks before you want to come back - whether that be after 3/6/12 months.

Don't forget you will continue to accrue annual leave whilst on MAT leave so can request to use this when your MAT leave ends - either to take a block of further (paid) time off or to discharge a day or 2 of leave per week to have a phased return.

@AntiqueCestChic amazing thank you! They do know I am pregnant and will be taking maternity leave but I felt pushed into only taking 3 months

I'm currently 20 weeks so I have time to tell them I want to change my mind

WRONG!!!!!

OP, you are entitled to 1 year without discussion. You shouldn’t really be having conversations about how long you want off. You need to give 8 weeks notice to change your return date, but it would automatically be set to 1 year after you start mat leave.

@OnceAgainWithFeeling ahh really? i felt pressured into taking 3 months so I'm going to stand up for myself now I know all of this and say I'm not happy with that!

When you give your notice of pregnancy by week 25 then just say at that point you are taking your full entitlement of 52 weeks. If you decide to return before that then you give 8 weeks notice before your intended return date.

Don't commit to a shorter mat leave at the start as you want to leave your options open.

You need to give 8 weeks notice if you're returning before the end of 52 weeks

Thank You all so much I'm going to tell them I'm taking the full amount of time!