Is parental leave classed as continuous service? NHS

[Sunnyday123456]

For post maternity leave, does anyone know if I were to use my accrued annual leave and then following this took a period of parental leave, if these options covered the three month period could this plan count as covering the mandatory three months to keep occupational mat leave pay? As in could a period of parental leave count towards the returned to work time? Thanks for any advice

Parental leave does count as continuous employment but what you need to remember is that the limit for parental leave is 4 weeks per year, and your employer has to agree to you using parental leave at the time you want it, they can decline it at that time so it wouldn’t be doable in that instance. I don’t think this is a solid plan to be honest.

Parental leave is always continuous service. Suggest you ask now to take 4 weeks parental leave at the end of your maternity leave ... likely they will agree to it if they already have mat cover in place