returning to work after maternity leave

vickynleon

hi just wondering if someone can help me, i have been on maternity leave and my 9months paid leave is due to end in 6 weeks and i cant afford to take the extra 3 months un paid so i need to go back, i have been told though that i need to write to hr to tell them 8 weeks in advance that i want to go back can someone please clarify if that is correct?
Also i am due 4 weeks holidays as i only took 2 before going on maternity leave so would i be entitled to take these to last my leave out an extra 4 weeks and i would like to drop my hours of work as i was working 30 hours before i left but i would now like to do around 16/20 hours to start with and then increase if need be so can i do this without them refusing me my job back. any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance :beer:

t0rt0ise

You do need to give 8 weeks notice if you intend to return before the full 52 weeks are up. You can probably take your leave straight away but ask them. Also you can ask about reducing hours but that would be up to them and they could refuse.

vickynleon

ooh dear really hope they dont refuse, i havent been very well since having my little boy so dont think i'd cope very well doing 30 hours and coming home to two lively little boys lol thanks for the advice about the notice, guess i better get a move on then because im already 2 weeks late to go back at te end of my paid leave. thanks

getmore4less

When is the holiday year this may be critical if April to march.

Check the holiday accrual/use carefully wit habove holiday year allowance and used in the holiday year.

It is good practice to have people take maternity holiday just before or just after the materntity leave.

Since you could be off anyway on exended maternity without pay and the holiday would still be there on return having to be used before the holiday year is finished there should be no business reason to refuse the holiday.

One issue is you should also put holiday requests for 4 weeks holiday, 8 weeks in advance but the employer does not have to insist on this.

Change in hours is a seperate issue and the employer only has to consdier this


One option might be to use the holiday to reducee hours in a phased return, 4 weeks would give you 12 weeks of 20hrs(10hr reduction).

carebear13

you only have to give 8 weeks notice if you are returning earlier than you had arranged. With my employer all that kind of stuff is worked out before including holidays, unpaid maternity etc.

t0rt0ise

carebear13 wrote: »

you only have to give 8 weeks notice if you are returning earlier than you had arranged. With my employer all that kind of stuff is worked out before including holidays, unpaid maternity etc.

That goes without saying because in that circumstance the notice will already have been given. Although it isn't to be encouraged as people often change their mind about what they intend to do once the baby arrives.