Not returning after maternity leave - pay

[lookingatlife]

I have decided not to return to my job after mat leave. I want to avoid paying back the occupational mat pay though, so I need to return for 4 weeks. I've now moved abroad for my husband's job and it's a pain to come back for those 4 weeks. Is there any way around this? I've thought about getting signed off sick but want to avoid this if I can.

Thanks to anyone who can think outside the box on how to get around this.

Are you owed any annual leave you can take?

They may let you return the enhanced part of the maternity pay instead.

Getting signed off sick would be really shitty.

They paid you in good faith. I'm sure moving abroad wasn't a sudden surprise one morning.

Pay it back or go to work. You're incredibly lucky it's only a 4 week period, most enhanced mat pay schemes require at least 3 months.

No, sadly not, as I'm a teacher.

You would have to negotiate with your employer as each scheme will vary. There is accrued leave you could use but that may not be enough.

When are you due to return back to work? It may work out better to brung it forward so it covers part of a holiday period.

Then you need to go back or pay the enhanced pay back

You want people to give you tips on how to essentially commit fraud and contribute to employers potentially reducing maternity provision going forward so that they're not exploited like this?

Pay it back or do the work.

Can you negotiate with employer to pay some of the enhanced mat pay back, and not all?

It’s unlikely from my experience they will accept not at all. They may accept you paying it back.

If you’ve moved abroad how would you get signed off sick?

They’d most likely only accept a fit note from a UK GP surgery, and will be very suspicious if you have a sick note covering a long period from abroad. You’d make it obvious you were lying about being sick to avoid returning, as you couldn’t physically return!

You’ll owe the enhanced mat pay back. It’ll be in your contract (assuming you’ve already read this as you know the return period is 4 weeks) . You either pay it back or work the 4 weeks. Would be unusual to be allowed to never pay it back. Best case is a payment plan.

Considering you live abroad now you can't get the GP you used to have to sign you off sick. You won't be entitled. A bit surprised you didn't just say you were leaving. I would say be careful if you come back and want a similar job. You might not get a good reference.

How long have you lived overseas for? There may be tax implications.

if you will have been there for less than 6 months can you work remotely? I doubt however a company will be happy to make accommodations knowing that you will be leaving.

Pay it back.

The right and decent thing to do is pay it back. You're essentially asking people here to help you game the system. The pay was conditional on the assumption you'd be returning to work. You'll be unable to get a GP to sign you off sick as you no longer live in the country. Besides that, it's a crappy thing to do.

Are you sure its 4 weeks, most teachers who are at schools based on the burgundy book its 13 weeks or equivalent if part time.

Just pay it back - and be upfront with them sooner rather than later.

By moving abroad, you are fraudulently claiming maternity pay. Assuming you taught in a state school, you should be really ashamed to be fraudulently taking public money.

Assuming your notice is 4 weeks, could you let them know you’ll be coming back and will be handing your notice in on the first day back, and that you’d be willing to forego any payment in lieu of notice or paid notice period if they let you leave and keep the maternity pay?

Is it a private school? Or an academy? As it is definitely 13 weeks for state schools.

You need to inform your employer and suck up the cost.
This was a foolish decision that you could have made a long time ago as you would have known long before.

You're taking the piss. The whole idea is to encourage you to go back! You knew the deal when you moved. You're making it harder for women on maternity leave.

Ex teacher. Had to pay it back.

What? Why would someone have to stay in the country to claim mat pay? That makes no sense

She’s a public sector worker claiming enhanced mat pay and hasn’t informed her employer she’s moved. She now wants to try to get signed off sick to not pay it back!