Maternity Leave

izzyness

I've been working at my company for roughly 4 years and am currently 6 months pregnant. I have read the citizens information page regarding maternity leave and was a little confused by the section on holidays.

I get 20 days leave annually but have to take 7-8 days of that off around Christmas as the company is closed. As I am planning to take my leave in about two months I won't be here for Christmas so I obviously won't have to take those days then.

From what I read on the information page I can either take the days or be paid for them including all bank holiday I miss while out on leave. I have asked my boss (who is being and unholy terror about all of this but that's a whole other story) but he seems to think I am only entitled to 10 days leave as I'm only working half the year. Can anyone help clarify this point for me?

Thanks in advance.

Fear Ciarrai

Your maternity leave does not effect your annual leave AFAIK

RentDayBlues

izzyness wrote: »

I've been working at my company for roughly 4 years and am currently 6 months pregnant. I have read the citizens information page regarding maternity leave and was a little confused by the section on holidays.

I get 20 days leave annually but have to take 7-8 days of that off around Christmas as the company is closed. As I am planning to take my leave in about two months I won't be here for Christmas so I obviously won't have to take those days then.

From what I read on the information page I can either take the days or be paid for them including all bank holiday I miss while out on leave. I have asked my boss (who is being and unholy terror about all of this but that's a whole other story) but he seems to think I am only entitled to 10 days leave as I'm only working half the year. Can anyone help clarify this point for me?

Thanks in advance.

While on maternity leave you are legally considered working and so are entitled to your benefits. In this case you are entitled to all your accrued annual leave and any bank holidays accrued also.

Most companies allow you to take these days at the end of your leave

Carawaystick

You get the 26 weeks with maternity benefit and the there's the unpaid weeks ( 14 I think)
If you assume you start leave in the middle of the year( so there's 26 weeks til new year's eve) and you have taken no annual leave, you will earn your full 20 days plus 4 public holidays ( Aug, Oct, Xmas, Stephens day)
Plus you probably would be off New Year's day too.

If you take the unpaid leave, the time for your holiday reckoning still clocks up so thats another 5 days or so.

You can't take holiday leave while on maternity leave, so that's why its usually paid/taken at the end of the maternity leave.

The time on maternity leave is counted as reckonable service, if you ever get made redundant.

izzyness

As I thought so he is just being a prick as usual. Thanks for the help.

LawTalkingGuy

Hi all

I am pregnant with my first and will not be returning to work after the birth. I am entitled to 6 months maternity leave and 4 unpaid. When should I tell my employer? Just hand in my notice 6/8 weeks before the baby is due?

Many thanks for your help!

GerardKeating

LawTalkingGuy wrote: »

Hi all

I am pregnant with my first and will not be returning to work after the birth. I am entitled to 6 months maternity leave and 4 unpaid. When should I tell my employer? Just hand in my notice 6/8 weeks before the baby is due?

Many thanks for your help!

Technically you have to be working to get Maternity leave, so wait till you on leave before you give notice, also you might change your mind during your Maternity leave, so don't rush to quit.

Carawaystick

If you quit before maternity leave starts, you won't get holiday pay.
If you take Parental leave after unpaid maternity leave, you will accrue more holiday pay then too.

LawTalkingGuy

GerardKeating wrote: »

Technically you have to be working to get Maternity leave, so wait till you on leave before you give notice, also you might change your mind during your Maternity leave, so don't rush to quit.

but If I take maternity leave and don't come back - do I have to pay them back?
Many thanks for taking the time to answer

Fear Ciarrai

LawTalkingGuy wrote:

but If I take maternity leave and don't come back - do I have to pay them back? Many thanks for taking the time to answer

No

galah

I would say that depends on your contract. In my company you would have tp pay i think a months' wages back if you decide not to return (must check exact limits, but you defo have to pay back something). Might be worth checking it with HR in an 'innocent question' kind of way? Also, if you quit before maternity leave they won't pay your wages as you're no longer an employee...( if you get a top up that is).

LawTalkingGuy

galah wrote: »

I would say that depends on your contract. In my company you would have tp pay i think a months' wages back if you decide not to return (must check exact limits, but you defo have to pay back something). Might be worth checking it with HR in an 'innocent question' kind of way? Also, if you quit before maternity leave they won't pay your wages as you're no longer an employee...( if you get a top up that is).

Thank you! Ok I will check to be sure. No point in missing out on entitlements but at the same time I don't want to be stuck with a massive bill if I decide to leave - which is very likely. Other's have mentioned holiday pay so I suppose it is still worth taking the leave even if you have to pay back everything.