Maternity leave/pay

[memoo]

I wondered if anyone could give me any advice with regards to maternity leave and pay.

I have been at my work for 2 years, always on temp 12 month contracts, but each contract has overlapped. I currently work 25 hours but this is split over two seperate contracts, one for my morning job, and one for my afternoon job.

I have two contracts because I work in a school supporting two different children

I need to know how much maternity leave I can take and what percentage of wages I would receive. Also what is the most I can take if I don't want to return to work. I've been told you get 52 weeks but you have to repay money if you don't go back??

Firstly the two different contracts doesn't matter. It's continuous service with the same employer and the total salary that are important.

You can take up to a year maternity leave regardless of whether you return to work.

What pay you get will depend on your employer. Public sector maternity pay can be quite generous if you are working in a state school, but either way, you need to check the policy where you are.

You will be entitled to SMP, as long as you are earning enough, and you will not have to pay any of that back regardless of whether you go back to work. If you are entitled to anything over and above SMP when you check your employer's maternity policy, you may have to pay some of it back if you don't return for a set period of time, you will need to check the terms and conditions carefully.

Explore this section of the directgov website to find out all about your maternity rights, including SMP.

Thanks for that Flowerybeanbag, you've really put my mind at rest

Will have a look at that link now