Civil service maternity leave

[FluffyKitty007]

I’m just under 5 weeks gone and only found out 4 days ago and I had a crash course on everything to do with babies and pregnancy 🤣

Can anyone working in civil service advise? I understand that I have the right to come back to the same job if I go on up to 9 months of maternity leave and that’s what my boss suggested at some point.

It is my first pregnancy, so I don’t know how I will feel about returning to work. I know women who were bored after 6 months and came back, while others stay beyond 12 months.

I really like my job and would be sad to lose it. How does it work, can I indicate 9 months and change it later?

For more context, I mentioned it to my boss some months ago to understand what was happening to a colleague who was returning from maternity leave and not coming back to the team (she went before I joined). This surprised me because in my previous department we had a few mat leaves and they were always coming back to the roles with temporary replacements in place.

You don't have to say anything upfront. Just give due notice of a return date as and when. Your smp will run out after 39 weeks. At 12 months you should be offered either your current rile or one of same level, responsibility, pay etc

Definitely don’t make your mind up until you’re on Mat leave and due to give notice to return- you don’t know how you will feel!

www.acas.org.uk/managing-your-employees-maternity-leave-and-pay/planning-maternity-leave

Everything you need to know as per UK law is here.
Given you are NHS, you will likely have in depth mat leave policy but that will be based on legislation which is detailed on ACAS.

Basically, your employer should assume you take 52 weeks as you are entitled to, you can decide to come back at any point before that but you need to give a minimum of 8 weeks notice to your employer.

You will build up annual leave during this time. So once 52 weeks is over, you can use accrued annual leave to get the maximum time off.

You'll get paid up to week 39 which is why your boss has mentioned 9 months off, it's probably what a lot of people do but that doesn't mean you have to.

I personally decided when to return about 7 months into my leave and made a plan then. I don't think you really know for sure until you have the baby.

Find your departments maternity leave policy. You normally have to meet the criteria for Statutory Maternity Leave and Pay. Occupational is most likely topping your SMP up to full pay for 26 weeks and there may be different eligibility criteria.

You have the statutory right to return to the same job if you return to work after 6 months. After that it is a right to return.

Given you are NHS

eh? OP says civil service.