Can you work whilst on maternity leave?

charlie007

Just wondering if i could do any work whilst on maternity leave or would this affect my maternity pay - i am not ready to go back to work properly but could do something little somewhere else in the meantime

JoolzS

Maternity leave = getting paid for getting knocked up.

Getting a job elsewhere whilst on maternity leave = really taking the p*ss.

Julie

truly1

Bit harsh, Joolz. We dont know anybody else's circumstances, who are we to question.

Becles

If you are on SMP, you can't do any employed work, but you can do self employed work.

If you are on Maternity Allowance, you can't do any work at all without it affecting your benefit payment.

Happychappy

truly1 wrote: »

Bit harsh, Joolz. We dont know anybody else's circumstances, who are we to question.

Why harsh, if someone abuses the allowance they are given, why should other tax payers not have an opinion. The firm are still employing her, so if she is fit to work, why not go and do what they employ her to do....work for them :rolleyes:

McKneff

If you feel that you can do some part time work, why not contact your employer and go back there part time.

112inky

Yes...talk to your employer or register yourself in various part time job websites. It really works..

faye6174

JoolzS wrote: »

Maternity leave = getting paid for getting knocked up.

Julie

Maternity Leave is time off not pay. (although part of it is paid, not all of it is i.e. if someone chooses to take 52 weeks)

Maternity pay is for WORKING women who get knocked up, provided they have enough 'service' previously. They contributed before and most will contribute after. Statutory Mat pay is a pittance as well.

Maternity Allowance is getting paid for getting knocked up.

I can't see how working women can be critisised for taking pay/leave when there are people out there who are take take take and have never contributed a penny.

I do begrudge the amount of allowances made for people with kids in the workplace ( i have none myself) as it is indirectly discriminate to those who chose not to. Maternity leave is a nightmare and costly for employers. With the amount of spongers this country has, there are better targets for negativity than women who have worked and contributed.

BabyElephant

You are allowed to work for your employer for up to 10 days during your maternity leave without it affecting your SMP. These are called Keep In Touch days. But you will need to negoitaite the rate of pay for these KIT days. You are not allowed to take a job elsewehere and still continue to receive SMP.

If you go back to work part-time for your employer then your SMP ends.

Becles

faye6174 wrote: »

Maternity Allowance is getting paid for getting knocked up.

Maternity Allowance is paid depending on your National Insurance contributions paid through either employment or self employment. If you haven't been working, you can't claim it.

An employed woman on a job can walk back into a job on the same salary and conditions as before she went on maternity leave. However it's harder for a self employed woman to return to work, as she has to start building up her business again and winning back clients who have gone elsewhere while she was on maternity leave. Subsequently her income is lower until she builds the clients back up again.

As a self employed woman who worked bloomin' hard both before and after claiming Maternity Allowance, I think your post is quite harsh.

faye6174

Didn't mean to be harsh! not on working mums like you becles anyway!! Should have used my own words and not taken someone elses!

I stand corrected on the MA where self employed

My point was that those who DO contribute should be given a break and not be classed with the rest of the scroungers!!