New role for same employer - entitled to SMP?

[AimeeSolange]

Hi all,

We're currently TTC, but I'm also on the look out for new jobs, and I'm trying to work out how this would affect my rights to SMP. At the moment I'm looking at roles only within the organisation I currently work in, but in different departments (it is a massive company). If I were to get a new job for the same employer but in a different dept, would I still be eligible for maternity pay? Also, the rules state 26 weeks employment 'without interruption'. If I got a new job at the same place, but took a week off between finishing one role and starting a new one, would that make me ineligible?!

Thanks for any advice!

It requires continuity of service, so assuming the break was taken as annual leave it would be fine. There are other reasons for wanting that continuity in terms of accruing pension, leave, sick pay, employment rights for redundancy and dismissal etc.

Thanks Lizs, that makes sense.