PREG DURING CAREER BK!! WHAT HAPPENS??

[rory140903]

Hi, I have 2 ds and 1 dd all under 5. I am coming to end of maternity leave for dd, and am considering a career break. My job is in local government so I can take up to 3 yrs unpaid. My question is, if I get pregnant during a career break (would love a fourth but 'we' haven't decided!!), how does maternity pay work and can I put a 'pause' on the career break for the time I would be off on maternity?? I've trawled internet and can find nothing on this, please help its keeping me awake!!! (saddo that I am)

I'm guessing that since mat pay is based on what you earned in your qualifying week and that would be nothing then you would be paid nothing. Have you looked at your local terms and conditions it should say there.

I'm not in HR or anything

rory you'd have to look at your terms and conditions or maternity policy. As 1dilemma says, statutory maternity pay is based on average earning during a set period, and if that's nothing then you'd be paid nothing, although you might be entitled to maternity allowance instead. But as you work for local government your maternity package will be more than statutory so you will need to check what terms and conditions are involved. As there is a specific policy to allow career breaks (lucky you!), this will obviously be something that happens from time to time.

Check your maternity policy first, it should give details for you, if for any reason it doesn't, ask your HR department.