Maternity leave period from 9 to 12 months

[nicsnigsnags]

Hello

I was wondering if it was possible, after 9 months paid maternity leave, you wanted to take another month unpaid, is this possible or do you have to take the full 12 months if you see what I mean.

Am on stat maternity pay just now and my return date is end of Jan, I really would like to try and extend this but can't afford to take the additional 3 months unpaid but could perhaps manage a month.

I suppose what I'm asking is it an all or nothing scenario

Thanks

You can take whether amount of the unpaid leave you like. You just have to give 8 weeks' notice if you're going back earlier than you originally said. If you can manage one month financially, go for it!

Remember you should be able to take all holiday accrued while you're off so you can add that on as well.

Yes, I was going to take the holidays and go back mid February, unfortunately I had to use 4 weeks of my leave at before my Mat leave started as I had SPD then a lovely gallstone and I didn't want to go onto half sick pay so used the annual leave instead so that's why I don't have that much.

Thinking of what I can sell to get some cash to stay off! Just don't feel ready at all and quite stressed about everything, (no differenet to millions of other women, I know)