Maternity leave experts

[xttcbabyno1x]

Hello :)

I'm taking 6 months maternity leave, baby is due 20th of April and so I'm thinking about leaving work around 17th, am I able to take 2 weeks holiday starting from the 17th and then straight into maternity leave? Is that allowed ?

Yes but I believe maternity leave has to start from the date your baby is born.

Well it certainly was at my place of work (finance, London)

but ultimately just drop your a quick note asking for clarity. Job done

Your maternity leave starts the day baby is born - you can take holiday before, but as soon as they are born the clock starts on maternity leave.

You could tag the holiday (and any accrued over the 6 months ML) onto the other end though.

HR

mat Leave starts the after the baby is born.

this is written very clearly in the policy which you will have access to

Wrong.

You'd have to start your maternity leave at the latest of your EDD that's on your mat1B. So you could take the 2 weeks annual leave before that and start your maternity on the 20th April

But you can't have two weeks annual leave from 20th April and then start mat leave on 4th may

When you can start your maternity leave. You can start your maternity leave any day from 11 weeks before your due date.

Mat leave has to start when baby is born. Save the holiday and use it at the end of the 6 months.

I started my maternity leave two weeks before my due date.

fond memories of those two weeks. There was a lot of grey’s anatomy. Well over a decade ago

Ignore all the posts about when maternity leave can start when baby born or DD

clear as day

www.gov.uk/maternity-pay-leave/leave

Usually, the earliest you can start your leave is 11 weeks before the expected week of childbirth.

Leave will also start:

the day after the birth if the baby is early
automatically if you’re off work for a pregnancy-related illness in the 4 weeks before the week (Sunday to Saturday) that your baby is due

from the gov website.

Maternity leave automatically starts as soon as baby arrives.

Your annual leave needs to be taken before mat leave starts.

So if baby comes on time 20th then you can take leave 17th to 19th then mat leave starts.

You can add annual leave to the end of your mat leave instead.

OPs due date is April 20. So maternity leave can/will start

• up to 11 weeks earlier than that if she wishes
• on the day baby is born if earlier
• on the day baby is born if later

What she can't do is what I think she wants to do, which is have the baby and then carry on with her ordinary holiday leave until that 2 weeks is used up and then move onto maternity leave.

(Day after the birth, sorry not day of!)

Thanks everyone all sorted :) going to take holiday at the end of maternity leave instead! Thank you xx

You’ll also accrue holiday on maternity leave so you could take two weeks before your due date and then add on the end your accrued annual leave (incl bank holidays) which will make it an extra couple of weeks at the end at least. Obviously as soon as baby comes your may leave will start but any unused annual leave (if they arrive when you are on AL) carries over.

It completely depends on your pregnancy but working right up to your due date can be really exhausting! I loved the time I had on maternity leave before baby arrived - was able to relax and have enjoy hot drinks and binge watching my favourite shows and read etc and go for walks with my mum etc.

@EcoLife that makes sense

And I work from home so it just makes sense to work until he's born xx

I’d take a bit of time before your due date if you can. You’ll most likely be exhausted and brain dead in that last month, and baby could come early (anywhere between 37-42 weeks is full term) even a bit of time to rest would do you good. I worked until 38 weeks last time and the last 2-3 weeks were torture even doing an office job from home. This time I went on leave at 35 and a bit weeks, 38 weeks tomorrow and no way I could be using my brain right now! If you have to work right up to your date that’s fine, but worth considering options. You can change your mind in the run up too.

hello, I start a new role as a teacher in September, my probation period is two terms. When do you think I will be entitled to maternity leave? I feel awkward to ask and it was not mentioned in my contract at all. Thanks

You are entitled to maternity leave from day dot, regardless of how long you have worked there.

Pay (SMP) is different - the government website explains it all, but if you have been in some type of employment over the year leading up to your baby's due date, at the very least you should qualify for maternity allowance, which isn't hugely different from SMP (apart from the first 6 weeks) Maternity allowance is also not taxable.

Hope that helps!

maternityaction.org.uk/advice/discrimination-during-maternity-leave-and-on-return-to-work/