Mat leave and holiday carry-over

[bamboooooo]

I'll be going on mat leave from 1 January.

I've saved up 3 days from my holiday allowance this year to use next year, so I've got as much time as possible with the baby.

Usually this would be fine as I can carry over up to 6 days, which have to be used before March

I'm sure I've read somewhere that they can't impose the March deadline on me as I'm not able to take the holiday while I'm on mat leave. But my manager is quibbling it (small company, no HR) so I stand to loose the days I saved up!

If I'm right, Does anyone have a link to an official source I can show my manager?

When are you actually due? Why not take holiday the first few days in January then start mat leave?

Due on 3rd so I could take a few days then I suppose. I suspect they'd let me change the date I start.

Mat leave will start automatically the day after baby is born if you plan it to start later, and when planning mat leave you can’t really arrange for it to start later than your due date, so that won’t work.

Your employer has to let you carry over holiday if you are unable to take it because of your maternity leave. However that doesn’t mean they have to let you save up days from the previous holiday year deliberately, because then it’s not maternity leave stopping you taking them, it’s a choice.

They could require you to take it before you go.

Thank you, that's really helpful.

They've let me carry it over, so no drama in the end.