Very Cheeky Post on returning/leaving work

[baby0684]

Im returning to work after 1 year off in September.
I dont really want to go back. But if I dont I will have to pay back the money I got.

I have to return for at least 3 months.

My query is can I hand my notice in at 2 months, and leave at 3 months. Or do I have to work 3 months and then hand my notice in?

I dont want to query it with HR, as then they will know I am planning to leave.

Any help would be greatly appriciated x

You can be working your notice while doing the three months.

Does it matter if they know you are planning to leave?

When you say "pay back all the money" do you mean that you received additional money above Statutory Maternity Pay because that isn't repayable?

I had enhanced pay 90% for 6 weeks. Then 1/2 pay for 12 weeks.
But obviously in that was 136? of statutory pay.

It will depend on the terms of your mat pay scheme. You'll need to see if the policy specifies. Many do say it can't be your notice period

What you sometimes can also do is request to go back part time say 1 day a week (!) then hand in your notice while using your accumulated annual leave to cover the one day you are meant to be working over your notice period.

Yes it's cheeky but within the rules. Depends on your contract though.

You need to check the wording of your contract/company policy.

For me, I have to go back for 13 weeks exactly and I'm going to give my notice before I go back. 13 weeks is all I legally have to do but I'll be nice and give them as much notice as possible.

You need to check terms. Ours you could include your notice in the 3 months but you couldn't do it part time. If you went down to part time it was longer than 3 months to compensate e.g. if you were full time and went half time you would have to do 6 months. The schemes must vary quite a bit.

I would query why you don't want them to know. I told work my plans and got a decent project to do for 3 months. I did a good job and they said I could come back on a temporary basis when I wanted. If I hadn't told them I would have sent two secondees back to their original jobs (one seconded to my position, one into that persons) and messed up my team's line management continuity.