Maternity leave - unsure of what I can do

[Tietheapron]

I am due on July 19th, and I work Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

I am planning to take 12 months leave. Originally I had planned to go off on 26th June (which is a Monday) and return on the 24th June 2024, which is also a Monday.

Honestly though I’m already getting a bit tired and I’m thinking I’d like to go off a bit earlier - 19th June, which is a Monday. However, 19th June 2024 is a Wednesday. Would I be able to put the 20th June 2024 as my return to work date or is the twelve months absolutely the maximum?

52 weeks maximum, you can carry over holiday though and use that after the 52 weeks.

You will accrue annual leave while on maternity leave so you could, with your employer's agreement, take 19th June 2024 as annual leave.

You'll be accruing annual leave in this time. When I went on MAT leave I had to use holiday from previous year before I returned to work. So in your case it would be any remaining holiday from 2023 would be added on, if you have any (any of that's your works policy). You'll also have holiday from 2024 building up to use.

Just put the Wednesday in as annual leave at some point.

You might also want to think about swapping to Tues/Wed/Thur when you go back, as if you use a Nursery for the little one, you'll likely have to pay for the Bank Holidays even though Nursery is closed.

Similarly, your own bank holiday entitlement is affected by working pt including a Mondays

Sorry should have said - no holiday (teacher.) I can’t do Tuesday - Thursday either unfortunately! It’s work Wednesday Thursday Friday or Monday Tuesday Wednesday!

You don't get any holiday? That's ridiculous.

Go back on a Wednesday. It will be better to have a short week the first week back.

Wed thur Friday then

Ok that changes things slightly as teaching doesn't get term time holidays fair enough.

I can’t just change my work days but it’s really the maternity leave I’m needing help with. As the bank holidays don’t make a lot of difference as I’m off then anyway.

You should just clairfy it with whoever your line manager is.

Clarify

Ah ok. Yeah you'll go back on a Wed I guess. Ask your manager.

Is there no flexibility in that at all, then - so one year is the absolute max? It would probably be better to go off on the 20th June in that case! Just that it seems silly to go in for one day then go off again!

It's more that you would need to pay a nursery for them anyways, but I suppose you only need term time childcare so that reduces the cost massively.

I’ve gained three Mondays off that I wouldn’t have had this year though - so three two day weeks that otherwise would have been three, so no complaints here

Maternity leave is not 1x calendar year, it's 52x weeks.

So you being off w/b 19 June 2023 is week one.

W/b 17 June 2024 is week 53. Which means you will be expected back at the start of that week, on the Monday.

That’s helpful: thanks.

I don’t know if this is possible seeing as you are a teacher but I’ve spoken to my work about arranging unpaid leave in order to extend my maternity leave (as I’m splitting some shared parental leave with my husband). Not sure if they would let you do that and obviously it’s an income hit but could be an option? Word of warning though you lose your maternity ‘rights’ at that point ie that they in theory can’t let you go while on Mat leave but I imagine on unpaid leave they can. It will be their discretion whether they agree to it or not.

I think the date you are due back is that day. Be the same if your due back date was the last day of term. You couldnt just say oh well its only a day I won't come in. But just ask. They might not want you in for part of a week.

You dont have to specify a return date right now. They need to assume you are taking the full 52 weeks. All you need to do is to specify the date you want your leave to start. They then write to you and tell you what your return date would be if you take your full leave.