How soon after returning to work can you look for a new job?

[Meandacat]

I've just returned to work after 10 months maternity leave. I genuinely like my job and where I work, but the commute is a killer. It didn't matter before but it matters now, so I'm thinking that I should start to keep an eye open for opportunities closer to home. But I can't find any details about how long you need to be back at work with your employer before you can move on, (i.e. if I don't want to have to pay back any of the enhanced maternity pay!)

Anyone got any idea?

It'll be in your contract surely?

Totally depends on your contract and work maternity leave policy. My work's maternity leave policy clearly states that you have to return to work for x weeks otherwise you have to pay back your maternity pay. I think it's only 3 months though. Can you check with HR in confidence?

No,it's not in my contract and I've looked all through our work's maternity policy and it's not mentioned at all.

I just wondered if there was some statutory length of time set down by the government.

As it's enhanced maternity pay rather than just statutory then it's entirely at the discretion of your employer, and wil be stated somewhere in their maternity leave policy. I agree you need to ask HR in confidence.

Ok thanks. Unfortunately I don't entirely trust our HR dept. :(

Check your contract, handbook and your maternity policy which will probably be on the company intranet. Also check any letters that they sent to you about your maternity leave and pay. If you don't have these any more then HR should still have copies so you could ask for them saying something like "I'm just tidying up my paperwork and I realised that I have mislaid the letters you sent relating to my maternity leave".