Changing jobs whilst on maternity leave

[midnight1983]

I am wondering if anyone here has changed jobs whilst on maternity leave? I think that I need to as I need fixed hours and preferably somewhere more local. Has anyone done this? How did it work logistically? Am I within my rights to give notice while still on leave? TIA.

Yes of course you can quit your job at any time, as long as you give notice. Here you can only keep enhanced maternity pay though if you return for three months. If you don't come back you have to pay it back. You'll still get your SMP though.

Say you're three months into your mat leave and you give a months notice... You won't have to go back, and they will pay you the rest of your SMP in a lump, now. You should also get annual leave in the form of days pay

So it might be better for you to quit later in that scenario if you'd prefer to get your SMP per month and accrue more leave!

Thanks for the advice. I only get smp so I won't have any issues money-wise. I guess I'll get in touch with them 8 weeks or so before I said I would go back.