earning whilst on maternity leave

threemuttleys

OH and I are battling our debts, and Im currently looking at ways to up our income. I am on Maternity Leave, but I was wondering whether me doing surveys/selling bits on ebay is allowed at all (or do I need permission from my employer?)

Many thanks

3m's

hcb42

Of course you can do those things. You can do them when fully employed

ultrarunner

some employers may have a secondary employment clause, which would require you to seek approval before taking a second job.

however selling things on ebay and doing surveys is casual work done on a piecework basis, you could easily contend that both of those are hobbies anyway, and not paid employment.

what you do during your maternity leave is your own business, providing you don't start a new job in which case you must tell your employer.

kate1979

I was just about to post a similar question so hope you don't mind if I ask it here. I am currently on maternity leave and am not returning to my job (a teacher). I have already handed in my notice so school are aware. I am interested in evening maths tutoring and am wondering if I can still do this whilst in receipt of maternity pay, bearing in mind school do know I'm not returning. My guess is yes as many teachers tutor whilst in full time employment - can anyone confirm?

mamaninie

I think the issue is around your statutory maternity pay/maternity allowance rather than any other contractual issue.

ebay stuff is just private sales so no issues there, survey work - not sure, tutoring if its through the books ;) may be problematic

ultrarunner

if you take paid employment before the end of your maternity pay period of 39 weeks you will lose any SMP not yet paid.

tutoring could be self-employed so i do not believe that would count.

by the way it is generally advantageous to inform your employer you are not returning from maternity leave as late as possible. you will also need to pay back any occupational maternity pay you may have received. you would also be entitled to be paid any accumulated holiday pay, although as a teacher i am not sure if it applies as surely you have fixed holiday dates?

MrsTinks

If memory serves then you can do selfemployed work whilst on maternity leave - do check up though just in case- there might be a limit for how much you can earn...

kate1979

Thanks for your help. This is my second maternity leave in three years so I felt it only courteous to keep school informed, since that way they could look for a permanant teacher rather than someone who may only have been available temporarily, better for the kids I guess.
I didn't take the occupational pay this time so nothing to pay back. Holidays are a bit different for us I think, I don't think I can accumulate them as a teacher. Good point though!
MrsTine, thanks for that, I'll definately investigate, though not sure where to find the official info. Will try Directgov and go from there.
Mamaninie, it would be through the books, am too much of a chicken to do otherwise!


Thanks again everyone

Becles

If you are on SMP, you can do some self employed work while claiming.

If you claim Maternity Allowance, you can't do any work at all - PAYE or self employed.

kate1979

Thanks Becles, that's very helpful.