Maternity Leave and pushy boss

[nbw]

I am in my first trimester and my boss knows already that I am pregnant.

Due to my job, it's quite complicated to get cover for me so they are insisting on me telling them how long I need off for maternity leave ASAP. They have given me a month to decide so they can let candidates know.

I have applied to 18 nurseries to try and get a place sorted (I live in a very overpopulated baby area and it is competitive!). However, none of my preferred nurseries will let me know if there is a place until way after my child is born...

I have no idea how to approach this issue, as I can either make up my plan to my boss and will have to change it later or refuse to tell them until after the baby is born.

I am anxious because I'm more worried about what is going to happen in 18 months' time than what is happening right now. It's making the whole experience very disassociating and clinical. Blaghhh

Has anyone experienced anything like this before?

They are supposed to assume you are taking a full year and you only need to give notice if you are returning before that. You don't need to commit to a certain period of time right now as you don't know how you will feel after the baby is born.

Exactly this. The default position is they need to assume you're off for a year. I go off early next year and have no intention of taking the final unpaid 13 weeks, I'm still down with HR as being off for a year and I just need to let them know at least 8 weeks in advance of the date that I'll be returning.

Okay, so is it normal for maternity cover to be flexible with how long they are working?

Do you want to stay off for 1 year or do you envision returning before that? You need to give 8 weeks notice if you are changing your expected return date.

That's not your problem though. That's your employers issue to sort out. If you have to give 8 weeks notice then your employer can then give notice to your maternity cover

8 weeks notice of your return date or to change your return date is statutory, they cannot make you give a date, if you wanted to give a date, you can change this as long as you give 8 weeks notice.

In terms of them arranging your cover, wording can be added to a maternity cover contract that it would end on a specific day, or the day following the return of the current post holder, whichever is the earliest.

So I really don't see why this is an issue for them. Direct them to gov.uk guidance around maternity leave and notice etc. That is all you will ever need to provide.