Statutory Maternity Leave

[Freddie327]

Hi, I may be redundant shortly (legally) and I will obviously be looking for a new job.

However as I am already PG, I understand any new employer will not necessarily have to pay me Maternity pay (because of not being in a job long enough), but.....

is there a legal right to Statutory Maternity Leave?

i.e. they won't have to pay me Mat Pay, but do they have to give me Mat leave and if so what is the qualifying period by law (if any)?

Many thanks

A website I found useful for this sort of info was www.tiger.gov.uk

hth

According to this you'd be entitled to ML of up to 52 weeks total.

You are entitled to 52 weeks m/l regardless of length of service. (rules changed for babies due after 1/4/07, used to only be 26 weeks in your circumstances - just in case your new employer isn't up to date )

To get maternity leave remember to give your employer notice in or before the 15th week before your baby is due.

many thanks ladies

Don't forget that as long as you have 26 weeks employment in last 66 weeks, starting at the 25th week of employment, you can get Maternity Allowance. Rate is £112.75 per week for 39 weeks, or 90% of earnings if average weekly pay is less than £112.75.

You need 13 weeks (not necessarily consecutive) wage slips (even one day of work in a week counts as a week) from the 66 week period.

Use your best wage slips to get the maximum benefit (they tell you to do this on the form).

Apply through job centre.