When should I hand in my notice?

[ethelina]

OK then. I'm due back to work in early May after 9 months ML. Don't want to. We have pretty much decided I will resign and stay at home for the next 2-3 years if poss.

Is there any benefit for me to extend the ML to the full year (taking it to early August) before resigning?

Or should I just get on with it?

I work for the NHS if thats any help. I need to give 1 month notice of resignation, or 8 weeks notice of change of ML length.

I don't see any point in extending it, unless there's a possibili that you might still change your mind.

Yes you should wait util the last possible moment. Firstly there is always a slight possibility you might change your mind, but more importantly, you are entitled to all your contractual benefits throughout your maternity leave, so if you leave it til the last minute you'll get a year's holiday entitlement.

No possibility at all. My mind is made up, just wanting to make sure i'm not missing out on anything silly financially or re my pension.

I would say just hand your notice in as soon as your maternity payments are due to end. If you will be paid for the last 3 months of the 12 then of course extend it and hand in your notice at the end of month 11. otherwise, hand it in now and begin enjoying your life as a SAHM. I wish I was in your shoes. I'm in the middle of trying to figure out some way of being able to stay at home with my DD but money would be tight. I think we could tighten our belts and make it work but DH isn't so sure. And I don't want to put any pressure on him to be the main earner. All the best.

HAHAHA This is NHS so have always been on SMP only. (No extra on top).

I will hand in my notice on the 5th of April then and sod them.

We are taking a bit of a leap into the unknown with this and it is going to get quite tight I think, especially as my DH is self-employed, but I will be substantially happier at home with my son for now.

I am clinging on to the idea that when I do feel ready to work again I will just sail into the next job mad fool I know

Just be careful re the holiday thing - i took my paid hol entitlement at the beginning of mat leave IYSWIM, so had I resigned after 9mths ML I'd have owed them some of it back. Equally if you've not yet taken your years worth of hols (and PAID bank hols mind!) they actually owe you the cash!

That would be pro-rata'd (sp) for the 9mths tho obv

Don't want your benefits then OP? If you are getting NHS pension contributions and holiday entitlement that's a lot to turn your nose up at.

I agree with flowery (but then who wouldn't )

Resign at the last moment you can per your contract terms to ensure you accrue all holiday etc that you are entitled to. Also, a very long shot I admit, were redundancy to become an issue you might be kicking yourself for missing out on any pay out there.

Well this is it, flowery , I'm not entirely sure what I am entitled to.

Gingers My annual leave entitlement runs Jan to Dec, I took all of last year's leave before I started ML. I would expect to get this years leave entitlement tacked onto my last salary in April. I presume it would mean Jan to April ie 1/3 of my total 25 days.

Is there any pension contribution for the last 3 months? I thought they paid a percentage of my salary, which would be nothing for the period 5 May to 5 August.

testytesty

Ok, no pension contributions then if you'd be on no pay anyway. You'd get holiday up to and including 4 August, rather than just until April or whatever - another 6 days or something?

I just can't see any benefit doing it sooner really.

Thanks flowery for making it clearer. Think I will just extend for now and hand in my notice in July.