Cutting Maternity Leave Short

Piggles12345

Hi there,

My friend has agreed (in writing) to take maternity leave for 6 months at full pay.

She is now 3 months into this, is climbing the walls and is desperate to get back to work.

Her boss has told her that she isn't allowed to come back because she agreed in writing to be off for the 6 months. He also said that she can't work from home during this time because working from home counts as being at work and she has agreed not to be for 6 months.

Is this right? Can she really not cut her maternity leave short?

Any advice is gratefully received.

Thanks

honeypop

She can give 8 weeks notice to return to work on a different date to that previously agreed.

From the direct.gov website:
If you don’t want to take your full leave
Your employer must assume that you will take all your maternity leave, including additional maternity leave. If you don’t want to take all of your leave, you must give at least eight weeks’ notice that you are returning to work early or if you want to change the date of your return. Your employer can insist that you don’t return until the eight weeks have passed.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Moneyandworkentitlements/WorkAndFamilies/Pregnancyandmaternityrights/DG_065153

Piggles12345

:rotfl: :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Oh dear! I don't think she will be happy when I tell her that she needs to tell her boss and then wait 8 weeks.

I think she was imagining herself back at work on Monday!

I might ply her with alcohol before I tell her the news .

Berkshiregirl

It might not be what she wants to do, but perhaps she can find something volntary (and potentially part-time) to do? It's one of those things people working often say they'd like to do, but don't have the opportunity.

For example, if she were to volunteer for a local charity, she'd be out of the house, doing some good, and still getting paid her full salary from her job.

Savvy_Sue

And SOME charities would pay any necessarily incurred expenses, eg childcare.

However, it can take a while to set up some kinds of voluntary work, and they're not always able to take people short-term.

Worth googling volunteer plus your local town / area though, to see if there's a volunteer bureau which can introduce her.