Notice if not going back / accrued holiday

[PixelFloyd]

Help! I'm supposed to be returning to work in January, at the end of some accrued holiday that I have added on to the end of my maternity leave. So while I'm not due back in the office till January, the official "return to work" date is in November.

I'm getting a little nervous as we are finding it tricky to find any childcare that works for us. A couple of childminders/nurseries have said they might have a place in January but can't tell me yet.

If childcare doesn't work out I will need to hand in my notice, which in my maternity policy is 8 weeks...but would this be 8 weeks before the official return to work date (making it very soon!), or 8 weeks before I am due physically in the office in January?

I don't want to give up on getting childcare that works right now, but am concerned about what might happen if I do need to hand in notice but don't do it at the right time.

I suppose I could ask my HR department, but don't want to raise an alarm unnecessarily at this point!

Any thoughts??

Bump - anyone?

Im in the same position - i know i dont want to go back but im not sure when to hand notice in either. I have asked on here before about takingthe holiday as notice. I think in the hr policy where i work it says 8 weeks notice if you want to change the date you go back, but im still on one months notice if resigning so i think that would still stand...not sure though, hopefully an hr adviser will be alongsoon!

I believe the 8 weeks is if you want to go back before your back-to-work date. If you want to hand in your notice, I'm pretty sure it's just what is in your employment contract (usually 2 or 4 weeks).

thanks :)

Snausage is right. Your notice would be your normal contractual notice.