Resignation at the end of Maternity Leave

[gigi556]

I am currently on Maternity Leave and due to return at the end of April. My contract states that I need to give one month's notice if I do not plan to return and this has been confirmed by a recent letter from my employer.

Clearly, I need to call my manager soon and let them know and also formally resign. I received an email today from HR asking what my plans are. I'd rather not give my notice yet because I want to make sure I get paid for all my accrued holiday up to the end of April...

If I resign now, can I word my resignation so that it is effective from when my mat leave ends?

Hello! I'm in the same position as you with the exact same time frame. My boss hasn't contacted me yet though and I don't expect them to either I will hand in my notice exactly 4 weeks prior to my return date and hope I don't have any hassle being paid the holidays I'm due. If I were you I would ignore the HR query and just wait out these last 2 weeks (you could be on holiday for all they know) until you send your resignation letter. Good luck!!

Probably a bit late to be useful to you @gigi556 but I'm in HR and I would agree with @lindsaydoll82 - ignore the email (or if you want to be really infuriating reply to say you haven't decided ;)). It's pressure and you're under no obligation. You are entitled to give more notice than the minimum required but they're not obliged to accept the longer period, so resign with the min notice period before you're happy to finish up.

No reason to think you wouldn’t get paid for your holiday, just resign and say you are giving x weeks’ notice (however long it is until the day you want to leave) for your employment to terminate on x date. Nothing wrong with giving more notice than the minimum required, as long as you are clear that’s what you are doing, and sometimes it can be helpful.

Alternatively just wait, as suggested by others.

Thanks for the advice. I called my manager this morning. I said I was undecided... I said I'd consider a part time role but I didn't want to return full-time. I'll see what they'll come back with. I don't think I'll go back at all but if there was an alternative role very part-time I think I'd be mad to not at least consider it... I'm confident they'll pay me for my holiday entitlement. It's a respectable national firm.

So are they obliged to accept a longer notice period than the minimum or not? Confused between what flowery and pass the after eights are saying

It depends on the wording of a particular contract's termination provisions but in most cases employers are not obliged to accept a longer period than the contractual minimum. In that case, a decent and reputable business would be best advised to accommodate an employee trying to be fair wherever possible, and most do.

Be warned- in many places, you will have to pay back your employer scheme maternity pay if you do not return from maternity leave.

Thanks, Toth. I didn't receive any enhanced pay as I was not with the firm long enough before leaving so will not be obliged to pay anything back. I only received statutory pay.