Changing Maternity Leave return date - help!!

[BrumKP]

Hi all,
I'm currently on Mat Leave and I initially said I would go back in July (after 6 months) but now I don't want to. I had presumed that I could give 4 weeks notice but I've looked today and it's 8. I am now panicking because I'm not ready to go back! I called HR today and she told me to speak to my manager asap but that I should have given 8 weeks. She couldn't tell me what happens if my manager doesn't agree to extend it. Does anyone know? What can I do? TIA

I think it's unlikely they'll try to force you back to work against your will, but yes you do have to give 8 weeks' notice. Otherwise if they've employed maternity cover and given that person notice they could have a problem.

Do you know if it will cause them difficulty to not having you returning and only finding out 4 weeks beforehand?

Thank you for your reply @flowery. Practically no, it won't cause any issue, but they aren't the most reasonable of companies and I'm concerned that they will cause trouble for me.

Did you manage to get hold of your manager?