Maternity leave

[TrendStopper]

Was talking with a friend earlier who is about to have 3 under 3. She works. It got me thinking. Is there any legal rules about how many maternity leaves you can have? If there isn't why isn't there?

No because it would be discriminatory.

Theres something like you have to be back at work for X amount of weeks before breaking up on another session of maternity leave but that's about it.

Statutory maternity leave is payable to anyone who was employed before they became pregnant and who earns more than £111 per week. There is no limit on how many you can have. You don't have to return to work in between either.
SMP is paid at 90% of average earnings for 6 weeks then at £138.18 for 33 weeks.
If you return to work early you can transfer what's left to your partner as shared parental leave

Thanks for the replies.

It sounds like a good thing and a bad thing at the same time. So basicaly soneone could have a baby every year for 10,20,30 years and still be able to keep their job.

I feel a bit sorry for businesses.

I don't think that's very likely trend.

They could but it is unlikely. It is not a good idea to write laws for exceptions. Most people have 1/2/3 mat leaves and that seems fine to me.

If you feel strongly, vote UKIP. They plan to abolish mat leave.

trend, small businesses are protected; they get 100% (102%?) of the SMP back from the govt, including contributions. They end up in pocket, unless they pay enhanced mat pay.