Work contact during maternity leave

[Kentlassie]

Does anyone know when you are legally required to confirm your return to work date? I am due back on 1 Sept and have accrued 30 days AL.

Work policy is to add it all on or be paid for it all.

I feel like I’m being harrassed about a) return to work date and b) in the office KIT days.

I was chased about KIT days last night by my boss and now have received a high importance email from HR about return to work date.

Is this normal?! I’ve done 1 KIT day and have monthly phone catch ups with my boss and separately with my mat cover. My boss knows I am bf and have 3 pre schoolers so DH would need to take AL for me to do a KIT day.

You don't have to do any KIT days if you don't want. If you don't want them say so clearly in writing.

You are supposed to have let them know your plans for the end of maternity three months before so it sounds about right for them to be emailing now.

Every monthly phone call would be a kit day surely.

Normally you give a return date before you leave, i always account of annual leave days here as well,so i say when mat leave qill end, and when i will be back in office after annual leave

Its 8 weeks to change the return to work date you hqve previously agreed

It should be assumed that you are taking the year. If you wish to change that you need to give 8 weeks notice.

Of course a phone call isn’t a kit day.

You can tell your employer at any time but you must tell them at least 8 weeks before you are due to return if you want to change your return date

KIT days are voluntary. If you don't want to do them just tell them.

Re your return date email them back to say you plan to return on 1st September but will give them at least 8 weeks notice if that changes.

It is also ok to tell them that you feel that the level of contact that you have with them is intruding on your maternity leave and can they dial it down to essential contact only.

Thanks everyone. Technically I could claim the calls as KIT days, they will pay for the whole day, but I haven’t as I don’t want to take the piss!

I will reconfirm the date I agreed when I went off, and will aim for a KIT day closer to my return date. Nothing has changed, I will be going back after a year on the date on my mat leave forms.

It is where i work, anything work related counts. KIT days don't have to be all day, they an be 1 hour long and its enough to claim

Can you check your maternity policy?

For those saying a catch up constitutes a full KIT day, at my workplace, you would only be paid for the hours it took, rather than a whole day's pay.

I think just communicate with them, from their perspective they probably think they are being helpful by reminding you about KIT days as it can help ease your return to work and many women find them helpful. Just let them know you don’t want them.

Why are you having monthly phone calls? You are on leave!