Extending my Maternity Leave

[LikeAnAdventCandleButNotQuite]

Hello, I wonder if someone could advise as to the following:

I started my ML on 9th December, and put, in writing before I left that I would be intending to take 26 weeks ML, then 4 weeks of Annual Leave afterwards. I put, in the letter, my return date. Work subsequently hired my ML cover, which I was unofficially told that they only did that as I told them I wasn't taking the full year's entitlement.

I am now at a point where LO is two months old, and I would really like to take the full paid portion of ML. 33 weeks, I think it is. I would then, ideally, like to add on the AL I initially intended to use up after that. This would then mean, rather than returning at the start of August, I'd be returning at the start of October.

I haven't put any of this forward to work yet, but I wasn't sure where I stood legally. Can they say "well, we have it in writing that you are returning on X, so you cannot return on Y". I suppose they can say No to the AL request. I know I am a fool for putting this in writing before ML started, but I didn't think we could afford it, and have subsequently re-jigged our finances.

Hmmmm......

Hi

You are entitled to 52 weeks ML so your employer can't say no even if you have indicated you were returning earlier. I would check your ML policy, in my company you have to give 8 weeks notice for your return date. I orginally told work I would return in Jan this year but have changed my mind and am returning in April- they were fine (they don't have a choice really and my guess is it happens quite a lot). I guess they can say no to your AL request but its quite common to extend ML using accurred leave, all you can do is ask.

You are perfectly entitled to change your return date as long as you give 8 weeks notice. They don't have to agree your request to tack on your AL to the end but they probably will as that's the leas disruptive thing for everyone.

Don't worry, changing your mind is not at all unusual, and people doing maternity cover will know there's a chance their contract might be extended/shortened.

I changed my mind and just wrote them a letter 8 weeks before my original intended due date. I also queried at the same time if the envisaged any problem with me being able to return to my old job as I was taking longer than the 26 weeks.