Maternity Repayment Negotiations With Prospective Employer

[Thismammaneedshelp]

I am currently on maternity leave and due to return to work in 4 months time. I have seen a job I would be really interested in applying for.

However, I have a maternity repayment contract in place. Can’t quite remember details to hand but along the lines of 100% if leaving within 3 months, 50% within 6 months. Repayment will be in the region of £10k. If it wasn’t for the repayment contract I would apply immediately.

I have heard of employers paying off courses/professional qualifications before but not known anyone to have left their company while on maternity leave for prospective on this.

Can anyone offer any insight or experience with negotiating repayment of maternity leave repayment if successful in applying for a new position?

You can and should ask, but the difference with qualifications is that they presumably are also of value to the new company. Aside from getting the preferred candidate (which if they were not on maternity leave they would get without an additional payment) I'm not sure what advantage there is to the company to pay off your contractual obligation? (there may be other factors you've not mentioned that make this more feasible)

There might be some options for negotiation around shortening notice period - so for example if you have been asked to return for 6 months to not have a financial penalty there might be room for negotiation there with the new company to say your notice period is whatever your obligation is. Or a negotiation on salary based on the financial obligation you have to your current company?

I have changed jobs on maternity leave in a similar situation. I did have to repay the enhanced part of the maternity contract, and the new company were not going to pay it for me. But I did also negotiate salary, start date and working hours with the new company which made it more of a better deal for me.

Also, you should definitely apply anyway - no point deciding until there is something to decide about.