Anyone not returned from mat leave after a year?

[Unsure42]

Currently on mat leave and I've seen a job that would be a great opportunity for me. Only issue is if I don't go back to my employer I think I need to repay part of my maternity pay? Does anyone know how this works? And also do prospective employers need to hold a job for you if you're still on maternity leave or is it at their discretion? Thanks!

You need to read your company's Maternity Leave Policy.

I received a generous maternity leave package, with a one month minimum return clause, otherwise I'd have to pay back everything I'd been paid over the statutory payments. This essentially meant I wouldn't need to go back at all, as I could have taken 1 month annual leave at the end of maternity leave and then left, as long as I'd resigned at the right time to be on Mat leave/annual leave through the notice period.

Most companies have longer minimum return clauses, but you won't know until you look at yours!

Agree with PP it depends on the maternity policy at your company.
With mine it's 3 months and I've had a colleague who had to come back for 6 weeks after she'd used all her accrued annual leave in order to keep her maternity pay. She was resigning to be a SAHM but had spent her maternity pay so couldn't pay it back