Not going back to work!

[littlesthobo]

I may be in the wrong zone here... but if anyone can advise I'd be grateful. I'm about to write to my employer to confirm that I'm not returning to work, giving plenty of notice which I know I don't have to, but it's a small company and I am/was 2nd most senior member of staff. Am I right in thinking that they should still pay me SMP until the date I initially said I would be back? And what about annual leave? I don't want to come over as presumptious, but don't want to miss out either. Thanks!

If you qualify for SMP, then they have to pay it until your entitlement ends which, if your baby's due date was before 1st April 20076 weeks and if after 1st April 2007 is 39 weeks. If you resign, your employer can either continue making payments as normal or pay the entire remaining amount as a lump sum, but it is your employer's choice, not yours. You accrue holiday pay for the entire period of Ordinary Maternity Pay, which is 26 weeks.

Thanks for that - duly noted. My employer contributes to a pension scheme - not a company pension but the type that they and employees both pay into. Do their contributions continue for the 39 weeks, or would I have to repay any of this? Really grateful for help!

I don't know anything about SMP, but congratulations for taking the plunge! I left work after ds and have NEVER regretted it, not even for one second.