Statutory Maternity Pay - does unpaid leave affect it?

yoanne25

I've been in my current job for almost 3 years now and I am taking two months unpaid leave in Jan-Feb. My employer is still going to pay all the benefits like health insurance, pension etc. What happens if I get pregnant during the leave?

It says in the stardard maternity policy that to be eligible for SMP you have to have been continuously employed for 26 weeks before 15th week before the due date (my unpaid leave will fall into this period if I get pregnant while being away).

Do you know if the two moths unpaid leave will still count as continuous employment and thus will I be fully eligible for the maternity pay?

Many thanks

System

You are still employed for that period so it will still count.