Paying back maternity leave - what's reasonable?

[C0smos]

I live overseas so different maternity laws. My company allows me 6 months maternity leave. 3 months on full pay and 3 months on nothing.

However, before I go they want me to sign a contract saying that I will pay back the maternity money if I leave within 2 years. I'm trying to find out if the amount will reduce over the 2 year period, but just wondering if the 2 year period is excessive or about normal.

I have no intention of leaving, but sometimes life happens. It also means they can give me no pay rises or bonuses in that time if they feel like it knowing that I can't leave without being out of pocket.

Thanks in advance for your replies.

In businesses I've worked in, it's always been 6 months you have to stay. 2 years sounds harsh...

Gosh 2 years sounds excessive. Do they have a similar clause for training eg professional exams? Could be worth checking and seeing what the time period is?

I have worked places where it is 6 months too.

It's a year for me (but I get six months full pay for it). 2 years sounds harsh.

Different country, different culture. You'd be better off asking someone there, tbh.

Thanks yes I also thought it was excessive. It used to be 1 year but they changed it recently to 2 years.

It's a UK owned company oddly. I will have an ask round to see if its the norm here, most of my friends here didn't go back at all so I haven't got many people to ask.

Mine is a year, but I get 18wks full pay. There is also a clause that if I get made redundant I don't have to pay it back.

If its a Uk company do you have a Uk contract or a contract drawn up where you live and work? If its the latter then ask locally . If its a Uk company and contract then Uk laws apply generally.

UK owned company, but my contract is local. I've had a good look round the local labour websites and it seems there are no labour laws governing this, each company can set their own rules.

I last went on maternity leave 4 years ago and it was all unpaid so I didn't have to worry, but I'm worried I might be signing up for something I might regret. 2 years is a long time.

Thanks all for your comments.

that does seem a very long time but if there is no laws about this I guess you are bound by the company's rules. The best way to look at it is that its three months pay that you didn't get last time. You could think of it as a loan and save it back up when you return to work so if anything does happen and you have to leave you will have the money ready.

Doesn't really matter what people on here think is reasonable, that's the deal on offer to you.

I would suggest accepting the money, not spending it, putting it aside so that if you decide to go back, you have it as a bonus.