Did anyone changed jobs while in maternity leave

[Aryam]

Hi
I am thinking at looking for a new job while been in maternity leave. The situation at my old job started to go sour and I don’t have the drive and the enthusiasm anymore to work for them.
Did any of you have done that? On CV do you mention when you are available to start work or say something at the interview?

I haven't- I'm returning to my old job but a friend was contemplating doing this. Turned out she would have been liable to pay back most/all of her maternity pay had she not gone back for several months due to her work contract- she tells me a lot of contracts have this but I've never investigated it myself so I don't know how true that is. Something to look at though in case you end up owing back your maternity pay through quitting while on maternity leave!

Yes I did. All within the NHS so didn't need to pay back maternity pay. I interviewed at about 9 months in. So if I was working, my notice period would have been the same length as my remaining mat leave. In the end I went back to my old job for about 6 weeks and then started the new one. I was totally upfront in the interview - location was one reason for applying actually. Plus I asked for part time hours.

Could I ask how this came about? I’m in the same situation with my job I can’t face going back they treated me so badly.

In my maternity pay confirmation letter it says if you chose not to return it won’t affect my entitlement but now I’m panicking?

Hi Lilac
Since we had a manager director put in place by the Business owner plus the changes that happened( been moved to a Different position without much notice & other structural changes) my enthusiasm has gone down the drain.
I have done some research: if you didn’t have contractual ML( been paid more than what the goverment gives u) then you can resign and the company has to finish paying you SMP.
I wanted to know if is ok to put now on CV the date that I am available to start work.

Ahh thank you.

I haven’t mentioned being on maternity leave on my applications just because when I did this after having my first born child I found I just wasn’t being invited to interviews.

I will mention it at my interview and it doesn’t really change anything as I still have to give a months notice.

@Aryam just have a read of your company maternity policy to be safe. As I understand it, some companies will take back the company maternity pay component (ie not the SMP) if you don't work for x months after the end of mat leave.

I’ve confirmed with my company I wouldn’t have to pay any back and I now have three interviews 😊 xx

Thinking of changing work soon to something less stressful! Anyone changed roles to something less taxing but to balance out work/life a bit better?

You still have to give notice even though you are on mat leave. Maybe this is something you could discuss when you get to interview stage.

I was made redundant on mat leave. I found a new job and I was there for several months, it was awful. I left as I was so unhappy and it was affecting me outside work and life's too short. This is from someone that has always had a job part from a gap year travelling. What I am trying to say is, it might be good to go back to a company that you know and you don't have to prove yourself. Work out what you want and how you want to go back- hours, f/t, p/t, get used to working with a baby and juggling life. Then go for a new job once you are in the swing of things. Although I would say job hunting, baby and work would be tough! Going back and proving myself was hard work (but I do have really high expectations of myself!).

Of course if you see a job that doesn't come round very often it is different. I wished I was given the opportunity to go back to my old company to see what works for me rather than guess and negotiate with a new company, Which to be fair was accommodating.

It will all work out.
Good luck!

I did - I was living in London and a rare job opportunity cane up back in my home town, was a step up and paid well so I applied. Explained in my interview I had to return to old job for 3 months or I had to repay my maternity money. Returned to old work after 4.5nonths of maternity. Would have loved my time at home with baby but this opportunity wasn't to be missed!