Changing maternity return date..? Help!!

[Samcj02]

Hey, I'm due back to work after easter*(this is what I told my employer but none of this was confirmed in writing) I want to change my return date to September, I work term Time only. Basically my mum has to cover hours at her own workplace and cannot help out with childcare until later on in the year. I work for a small business and am soo worried about telling them and worrying there will be an atmosphere when I return to. Work. I was probably a bit hasty when I said I'd return after easter, baby was only bronze on December and I was worrying about money but we cope fine on SMP. My partner and I feel baby is too young to go to a nursery as he also suffers badly with reflux. I'm really worried and getting stressed about informing work. Also do I have to give them 8 weeks notice as nothing was confirmed in writing. Any advice would be great..... Sorry for the long post!

*Baby was oy born in December. The predictive text!!!

Do you have a copy of your works maternity policy? I don’t know if the 8 weeks notice is government policy or not but I know my work policy is 8 weeks. Tell them now in any case! The more notice you give the better.

We don't have a. Maternity policy.. they only Employ four of us and they've never had anybody on maternity leave before. I'll get typing a letter and pop it by today. Thanks.

I wouldn't worry OP, your not asking to extend your leave anymore than what your entitled to. However the 8 weeks notice is something that .gov.uk say that you have to give if you want to change the date you return. You get 26 weeks ordinary leave and you are entitled to your job and pay back on the same conditions after this. When you go back to work after taking some Additional Maternity Leave (AML) (any part of the second six months of maternity leave) you have the right to return to your old job on your old terms and conditions unless it is “not reasonably practicable”, in which case your employer must offer you a suitable alternative job on similar terms and conditions.

Great! Thanks for the advice. I suppose I. The just worried how they'll cope until September as they don't have anybody covering my leave. X