Can I take full annual leave before maternity leave?

[Manchestergal003]

Baby due in 4 months. Have to start sorting out maternity leave. Ideally would like to use all my annual leave for the year to take a full month off before maternity leave (I work PT so I’d need to use 12 days for this)

Can my work say no to this?

Holiday - Maternity leave and pay - Acas

Yes, you can as far as I'm aware (I did) but be aware that if the baby comes early, you mat leave will kick in before you get to the end of your annual leave (although it should get carried over).

Thanks I read it and makes sense

By law, your employer must allow you to take your statutory holiday entitlement during the holiday year.

Thanks, @Manchestergal003 . I didn't really have anything to add but I didn't know until I read it that you still accrue annual leave while on maternity leave.

Wouldn't you be better keeping to tag on to the end of your mat leave?

Can't you carry it forward and use at the end of your maternity leave instead? Unless you are struggling physically, work as long as you can, I worked til the week before my due date, then 2 weeks later baby came and I was SO BORED waiting.

I took 3 weeks off before my maternity started and then used up a full years holiday before I went back.

Agree with PP’s and hang on into it to use at the end if that’s possible. It’s what I always recommend to everyone in my company.

You have no idea how you will feel or how well your baby settles into childcare so being able to have extra time off at the end may end up being a godsend.

I’m not planning on returning so I’d rather take beforehand!

I’m not planning on returning other wise I’d take at the end like I did with my first born, I just wanted to know if I could take it all before, going to ask HR soon I’m sure it’ll be ok. Just wasn’t sure as I’m going off midway through year so haven’t “accrued” the full whack of holiday days yet

Well then surely you'd be better taking it as pay instead

Will you be paid occupational maternity pay?

Would you have accrued this at the point you plan to leave, or might you end up owing some?

Have you told them you’re not coming back after your maternity leave?

This is what I did with my eldest because she was born early in the year so didn’t need take any leave before maternity- I used 4 days to go to 4 days a week for the last month then the rest before starting maternity.
Your work can’t stop you taking leave you’re entitled to but they could refuse to let you take it all at once, can’t see why they would though as you’re going off anyway

I think you can only use what you have accrued before your maternity leave and the time you earn during that leave can be added to the end. They are within their rights not to let you take any not yet accrued.

If you are not planning on returning, just double check your maternity pay contract. If you get more than SMP while you are off you may be required to return for a period of time or you can be asked to repay you maternity pay.

This happened to a colleague of mine, she got full or 80% pay or something for around 6 months and then moved to SMP. She found a new job before returning and had to work 3 months notice on her return to avoid paying back her full maternity pay. Luckily she had accrued some annual leave allowance so returned and took a chunk of that before working off the rest of her notice period.