Maternity pay - part time / full time

[Lake9mo]

Hi all,

I am currently part-time (Mon-Wed) but work would like me to go full time (Mon-Fri) as they see my PT hours a bit difficult. I love being PT as I get more days with my daughter which is so precious when they're young but I could do with the extra income.

I am also due to have a second child in Sep. 2023 which work don't know about yet.

I would like to postpone going back FT as late as possible if I do so that I can maximise the time I have with my daughter - if I went back FT in April for instance, would I still get the FT mat pay from September? Also would work think I am being "shady" by going back FT with full knowledge I'll be off on leave again soon?!

Any advice please? Thank you!

If it's a occupational mat pay, you need to look at the policy. It's normally based on average earnings for x many weeks before you go on leave.

You need to check what your contract/work policy say.
Could you go up gradually so do Mon-Thurs in March and then full time in April/May?
Talk to work about this as soon as possible (your working hours, not the pregnancy!)

Are you planning on returning full time after your mat leave? If so I don't think it's unreasonable to go up to full time soon. As long as you've been full time for a certain number of weeks, that FT pay will be used to calculate your maternity pay.
You'll need to check policy, but everywhere I've worked it's been based on the average over the 8 weeks before the 15th week before expected childbirth. So you'd need to go FT at least 23 weeks before your due date.

Thanks all - that's another factor, I think after my second, I would ask for PT again.

So really you are thinking of going full time to gain full time Mat pay, and then go part time after the baby is born. Yep make yourself popular in your work place. Tell them you are pregnant and that you want to go full time, see what happens.

You are fine to do as you've planned but when you put in your request to go part time again they are highly likely to say no

I agree with the above. If you go full time now they will likely expect you to stay full time after especially as the part time hours aren’t really working for them now…

Then no! Definitely don’t try to go full time just to get more mat pay.
As others have said you won’t be popular, and may well get your PT request denied

Thanks all! Think I'll stick with PT then!