Employer wants to use me/pay me as a freelance option while on maternity leave. Can they without jeopardising SMP?

[DungunGirl]

Anyone got any experience or knowledge?

My employer wants the option of throwing the odd freelance job at me while I am on maternity leave. I am keen as it means well needed money. However I do qualify for SMP, so will this put this at risk?

Or can I suggest they classify the work under the 10 'Keeping in touch' days that one is allowed?

If you take a year off, you'll only get paid for 39 weeks of it, so you could in effect come 'back' from maternity leave early but be on holiday instead, and be paid that way. Or some people tack it on to extend the amount of leave they get.

How much holiday do you actually get? You can carry some of it over and if your employer normally has a rule about when carried leave must be taken, they could waive it.

Ah so they want to put in onto the end of my paid leave.

I think I get 18 days a year atm for three days a week.

I hope they can waive it - my return to work falls in the easter hols and its just completely impractical with a school age child as well - I only need an extra 6 days off.

thanks btw.

Giantkatestacks

I reckon they'll be pretty flexible.

I have popped some leave at beginning at of leave and also some at the end, which falls into a new holiday entitlement year and they were more than happy for me to use the extra days in 2010.

flowwery

Thank you for your expertise!