HR question - Can I be paid for another job whilst getting smp from current employer

[moana1234]

Currently half way through my maternity leave and receiving smp through my current employer. A relative has asked if i would be interested in doing a bit of ad hoc work for his company whilst on leave to earn a bit of extra cash (times are hard at the moment) So just wondering would this effect my smp and do i need to inform my current employer if i did so?

https://workingfamilies.org.uk/articles/what-work-can-you-do-during-maternity-adoption-parental-leave/#:~:text=If%20you%20work%20for%20another,you%20are%20on%20leave%20with.

I know what the rules say but a key test for me is will you be working at a time you would normally work? For example if you work Monday to Friday 9-5 but the ad hoc work will be on a Saturday, Sunday or in the evening I.e. at times you could not do your main job it is less of an issue than if you would be working 10-12 Monday to Wednesday.

thanks for the replies and the helpful link!

I normally work Tues-Thurs so if i work monday / friday would this be okay? only other way round it the way i'm reading it is to do it self employed

Legally I think you can't start a new job for a different employer while on mat leave with the first.

But if you have two jobs to begin with, you can choose not to go on leave with one of them, or have a shorter leave with one than the other.

For example, I have two jobs: part time school teacher and part time remote working in a niche job a bit like copywriter. I took 9m off school and only 6m off the 2nd job. I was still able to claim the full 9mo of mat leave pay for my first job.

But if I'd never had the 2nd job before, and then started it during my school mat leave, I wouldn't have been allowed to claim the full mat pay

I don't think this is relevant to the rules though. I think it's just a blanket rule you can't start a new job and still claim

You can work self employed