maternity leave

[oreganooo]

hi, i'm currently in my last month and a half of maternity leave, but i wanna extend it so 52 weeks instead of the normal 39. I've emailed my boss twice, and another manager once, haven't got a single reply for 3 weeks. Will they need to approve me staying the full year on maternity or i've got the right to it? (i know it ain't gonna be paid) but i've had problems with them before i started MA, i've worked until the end, gave all the papers for it when i was 20w pregnant and in the last week of work i get told that my maternity is still not in, what took ages to take care off.
thank you

You are entitled to 52 weeks, that is standard. However if you have already given the date of your return at 39 weeka, you have to give 8 weeka notice to change your return date, i would assume they have to approve this.

i haven't told them when i was going back, they didn't ask either... i'm just assuming bc i stop getting paid MA now in october so i thought i would still need to tell them. But even if they thought i would go back in october i've give them more than 8 weeks notice, they just hasn't answered... that's my issue no communication at all

They would normally assume you are taking the full year unless you had officially told them you were returning earlier. If you have given a date then you need 8 weeks notice to change the return date

They sound awful
If you haven't given a return date then you're entitled to take 52 weeks of leave as standard with 8 weeks notice needed if you are returning earlier than that