Back to work after maternity leave

[Anajesus174]

Hi, I am back at work doing my KIT days at the moment. I am a care manager and have been on maternity leave for 6 months. Whilst I’m doing my kit days, 2 days a week just a few hours, I won’t have to do on call, cover weekends eyc, but once the kit days have finished… I will.

I don’t think this is possible with a 7 month old baby and I want to demote myself back to being a carer during the week. I used to do this before I accepted care manager role.

can my employer refuse this?
if so, can I quit without having to pay smp back?
how long do I have to stay at this job before I can’t quit without having to pay anything back?

thank you

My understanding (although IANAL), is that SMP doesn't have to be repaid, however enhanced maternity pay may have to be repaid if you leave or change role.

Hopefully they will allow you to take a different role and keep any enhanced mat pay!

Yes your employer can refuse it, you’d be asking for a new role essentially so they can absolutely say that does not work for them.

If that means you want to leave then you’d need to check your contract to find out how long you have to work without repaying your mat pay. SMP isn’t repayable but any enhanced is and usually it’s 3 months you have to return for to avoid having to pay it back.