Maternity leave - what is normal?

[pinningwobble]

I am not yet pregnant but ttc. Thought mat leave policy in my place of work was 3 months full pay, then the rest statutory. It is, but found out today that if you don't return to work for three months after your mat leave ends, you have to pay back the three months full pay (minus your stat pay).

This seems outrageous to me. Is it normal? I don't know anything about this area so perfectly prepared to be told it is normal, I just didn't realise.

It might be worth going back for 3 months to get 3 months extra pay as that is effectively double pay for that period. Depending on the timing, you may also get a tax refund later if you are taxed on those 3 months' pay within a new tax year but then don't work for the rest of the year, so that income is all within your personal allowance.

Three months full pay is enhanced pay. Teachers only receive 4 weeks full pay.

MsSampson, I'm not sure of the legal position but most businesses would do some kind of payment plan. Don't forget you will have accrued holiday etc that would be paid so the amount can be adjusted by this

I think its down to the company to decide if they want to offer you a payment plan or just claim the whole amount, I would think for a small company a payment plan would be unfair?

Your employer cannot claim all of the maternity pay back, only the "enhanced" part. So normal (SMP) maternity leave is 90% for the first 6 weeks I think, then SMP after that. So, if you get full pay for 12 weeks, you'd have to pay the extra 10% you received for the first 6 weeks over SMP, then the difference between your full pay and the SMP for the other 6 weeks if that makes sense.

And yep, 3 months is generous. My firm is 2 years!!

I get enhanced pay for 26 weeks (full for 6,30 percent on top of stat for 20. This is on the condition that I return to work for 13 weeks or I have to pay it back. I think it's quite normal