qualifying week-can you help with letter!!?

[spongecake]

i have to email my bosses today with when i go Mat leave. i plant to go end jan, have feb off baby due mid march. if i change my mind and want to go earlier can i do that? do i just give them 28 days notice? have no idea how I will feel, is a month enough? thx...

I worked up to week 35 in a retail environment; hard physical work. I was knackered and my back was starting to go, and it hurt getting in and out of my car. If I could do it again, I would do the same thing tho; the longer you can keep going the better as I just got fat and bored and impatient at home. Then dd was 11 days late anyway!
Dont know the legal ins and outs, but if you are off sick for a preg-related illness they can start your mat. leave from then.

Seems very early to have to tell them. You normally present your MatB1 form at around 6 months pg and then sort out the actual timings nearer the time. You can also tag any accrued holiday onto the front so that you get the benefit of more time on full pay before ML begins. ds was due mid March but we sorted it out nearer Christmas time in outline terms and confimed it in January. I stopped beginning of Feb, had about 10 days holiday to use plus time off for appointments before ML kicked in when I was about 36 weeks.

Where does the Qualifying Week fit in to your query ? Is that what is driving asking now as it shouldn't be relevant yet .

Hi

This is a template of the letter I would have to give my employer which I have to give at least 3 weeks before my earliest date of starting maternity leave which is 11weeks before EWC. I'm sure you should be able to tweak it to suit you

LETTER 1- NOTIFICATION OF INTENDED ABSENCE DUE TO PREGNANCY

You can use this letter to send to your manager at least three weeks before you want to start your maternity leave. If possible, you should give as much notice as you can.

NAME PAY NO

DEPARTMENT _

Address to which correspondence should be sent during maternity leave:

Telephone Number

Email Address

Preferred contact method

I understand that I am eligible for Maternity Benefits according to Camden's Maternity Scheme A, B or C (delete as appropriate).

Scheme A only

I am opting to receive (delete as appropriate).

a) 24 weeks at half pay, and up to 12 weeks without pay; or
b) 12 weeks at full pay and up to 24 weeks without pay.

I attach a copy of a certificate MAT(B)1 from a registered medical practitioner or a certified midwife showing the Expected Week of Childbirth (EWC).

I would like my maternity leave to commence on and I undertake to send my manager a copy of the baby's birth certificate, when it is available, and also to notify my line manager of the date I intend to return to work at least three weeks before my intended return.

I intend to return to duty for a period of at least 6 months after my maternity leave is over and I understand that if I do not meet this obligation then I may be required to repay some of the benefits which have been paid to me, according to the Maternity Scheme for which I am eligible.

Signed Date

you don't need to give employers any details of leaving date until you get a MATB1 form at 20weeks from midwife or GP. This is the official paperwork from hospital to employer and is used to arrange mat pay (average earnings based on week 28)

my advice is save up your annual leave and avoid taking it beforehand (go off sick - if need break)

give mat leave start date as last sunday before EDC (this is last legal day to take leave)

then negotiate and book annual leave accrued in the month preceeding - therefore get a longer time off but also enjoy a full six months with baby.

I've waffled now so will shut up.

hi thanks so much, all advice is a great help Its a very small co, so they want to know when I am off as I am the only one who works there...