NHS maternity leave - is the 3 months clawback FTE?

[Muddysocks1]

Not pregnant (yet) just curious. Handbook just says must intend to return for 3 months otherwise maternity pay may need to be paid back. I understand some employers mean this is full time equivalent, ie. If you went back 3 days a week, it would be longer than 3 months. Does anyone has personal/professional experience and know which it is, is it just 3 months regardless of full/part time, or is it 3 months FTE?

Logically, it should be the same 3 months irrespective - if the NHS pays you a part time salary, it's not going to suddenly pay you full time when you are on mat leave? So you will earn the equivalent of part time maternity pay, and that's what you'd be liable for if you left within 2 months.

Thank you, so if work agreed 3 days a week instead of full time it’s still 3 months. That’s helpful, thanks ☺️

But it’s common to work full time then return part time, so be paid full time mat pay but then want to return on less days

In that case, then yes, I'd expect it to be pro-rated out to the equivalent of days paid for versus worked back. Whether anyone would be arsed to figure it all out and charge it to you is another matter.

I guess my question is does this happen though. If it isn’t specified in the handbook (unless it’s elsewhere that lm missed), could that be enforced?

As far as I know it’s in any capacity - the example given to me was I could work every weekend for three months, for example. So as to not need childcare. But I don’t know if it’s universal or each trust or unit is allowed to interpret it in its own way.

Great, thank you