Returning to work p/t - annual leave entitlement and salary?

[walmer3]

I'm sure this is very simple but it's confusing me... I'm on maternity leave having been full-time before that. I will be returning to work on a 'staggered' basis (a couple of months 3 days a week, a couple of months four days a week then back to full time). This arrangement hasn't been formalised yet but my boss has said it's fine. the holiday year runs from Jan - Dec. If I want to tack on three or four weeks of accrued annual leave before I return to work in November, is it calculated based on full-time or pro-rataed? And similarly, will my salary for the couple of weeks I'm on leave be calculated on full time or part time rates? Thank you!

I would agree it with your boss, but my assumption would be that as the entitlement was accrued when you were full time, you are entitled to full time benefits for the leave period (in the absence of anything specific in your contract).

Your holiday will have accrued during your mat leave. During OML you will have accrued holiday at your normal rate (based on your full time hours). During AML you are entitled to statutory only so it will have accrued at a lower rate but still on the basis of your full time hours. Beware however that it is not possible to carry over holiday into a new holiday year whilst on mat leave. Its a use it or lose it situation and so (given the fact that you are probably at the beginning of a new holiday year) you are lucky if your employer is allowing you to use it at all.

You need to check how many days you have already accrued. If you are taking holiday entitlement that you have alreday built up then you just get paid for those days at the end of your mat leave.

If you have not yet accrued that holiday but you want to take some paid holiday then you would be using the holiday that you will accrue as a three dayer and so you will be left with far less holiday for the rest of the holiday year.

Sorry I haven't explained that very well at all. Have teething nine month old asleep on top of me and struggling to move hands to type!

I was full time, then went onto maternity leave, I accrued annual leave at the full time rate whilst on maternity leave for 6mths (was 2005)(leave for a full year full time would have been 27 days, so I accrued 13.5 days) I went back 3 days per week and used some of the annual leave up then, I was paid the lower salary, 3 days per week as soon as my maternity leave ended so I only needed to use up 3 days per week leave too, so my 13.5 days gave me 4 1/2 weeks off. I imagine at the end of your maternity leave if you are returning part time your payment will be part time straight away, but your leave will last you for longer as a result. For the rest of your holiday with your staggered hours you'll have to calculate it based on exactly how long you work what hours. Have a lovely time off with your baby!

Thank you for your responses. Sorry I think I have probably confused things a little. I'm looking ahead to when I go back to work in November 08 (having been on mat leave since Jan 03 2008). So the holiday accrued will have been from the start of this holiday year (Jan 08) to when I go back (hopefully Nov). Sparkley from what you say, am I right in thinking that they would pay me the equivalent of 10 months accrued (full time) holiday entitlement at the end of October? Or in fact, 6 months full salary holiday entitlement and 4 months at the lower rate - both of which based on full time hours? Thanks!

You're company might enhance the statutory position so check it but ordinarily you would get six months worth of full time holiday entitlment (OML) and then six months (or in your case four months) of statutory holiday (which is now 2 days per month) All paid at pre mat leave rate. You must use it before the end of the year.

Once your mat leave ends you'll start accruing at the new part time rate.

sorry - you didn't confuse things, I just failed to read your OP properly.