Will I get paid my holiday pay while on maternity leave?

[pedilia]

Or do I have to take it? Can I use it all before I go as I am not planning to go back?

not sure about getting holiday pay while on mat leave but you certainly will acrue holiday while on mat leave. Can you tack it onto the end of your leave?

Ir depends on your mat poicy/ contract, some places that have scheduled shut down periods class your holiday pay as being paid when it falls through your mat leave and that's it - I'm lucky enough to accrue my holiday myself so check out your policy - it should specify it for you.

oh and for got... if you're not planning on going back it will probably be pro-rata so make sure you don't take too much or you'll end up owing money, up to your boss if you can take it as any holiday booked...

I work for the civil service, and for us holiday is accrued pro-rata before you start maternity leave, then you accrue more paid holiday only during paid maternity leave [ie I get six months paid maternity leave, and therefore half a years worth of holiday to take when you return]. Not sure how it works if you are not going back - however, I guess you can only take the leave once it is accrued.

If you decide not to go back from maternity leave you should be paid pro-rata for the holiday pay you accrued whilst on leave. Check your company policy, some offer normal holiday entitlement throughout the whole period of leave and some just for the 6 months paid period. Whichever your policy says, the Working Time Regs override this and the minimum of 4 weeks must be paid (if your co. rate is less).

They might pay in lieu of holiday accrued while on maternity leave at the end of it (ie. when you resign). You should be able to take the balance of any already accrued beforehand, thus delaying the official start of your Maternity leave and giving you more time off on full pay now. However you do need to say you are planning to return to work for the time being in order to protect your rights.

Under Working Time Regulations you MUST accrue atleast the minimum legal holiday entitlement (currently four weeks per year, including Bank Holidays) for the duration of your Ordinary Maternity Leave (that means the first 26 weeks; the period for which Statutory Maternity Pay is paid). If you take Additional Maternity Leave, whether paid or unpaid, entitlement to holiday accrual is at the disrection of your employer. Check your Contract if this applies to you.