Pregnancy Leave Q

Marie27lol

Hi,


I may have got lucky a bit earlier than I hoped.


I work for in education on a 40 week contract (6 weeks for the summer hols), but it looks like I could be due at the end of July.


This is 2 weeks after end of term.


Now as I could be on maternity leave during part of my summer hols / my 6 weeks off, does this count towards holiday? Would I be then be entitled to the other 4 weeks off at the end of the maternity leave?


I suspect that is not going to happen, but perhaps, fingers crossed....


M

sweaty_betty

Marie27lol wrote: »

Hi,


I may have got lucky a bit earlier than I hoped.


I work for in education on a 40 week contract (6 weeks for the summer hols), but it looks like I could be due at the end of July.


This is 2 weeks after end of term.


Now as I could be on maternity leave during part of my summer hols / my 6 weeks off, does this count towards holiday? Would I be then be entitled to the other 4 weeks off at the end of the maternity leave?


I suspect that is not going to happen, but perhaps, fingers crossed....


M

Congratulations!
It's difficult to say without looking at your contract. It may depend on if you're paid for the 12 weeks you don't work. If the 12 non-working weeks are paid and are your annual leave allowance, it may be the case that although you will be on maternity leave you will be able to take this leave later (eg at the end of maternity leave). If you're not normally paid for the 12 weeks you're not working, you may be paid maternity pay for this time but not necessarily entitled to time off later. Ultimately you shouldn't lose out in terms of your pay/conditions (which includes holiday entitlement) while on mat leave, but I know that education, having set holiday periods, may have a specific way of addressing this.

Good luck

daisiegg

Not sure if you are a teacher or not but I am fairly certain that teachers can't add holiday on to the end of maternity leave if some of it falls during summer holidays. I know lots of people though who have played the system so they would come back for just one week before a holiday period (either Christmas, Easter or New Year) which would mean going back to full pay for those holidays. So if you were due in July and intended to have a whole year off, you could return to work for the last week of term the following July, and go back on to full pay but effectively work for one week then have another 6 weeks off (summer holiday) but on full pay.

fluffnutter

daisiegg wrote: »

Not sure if you are a teacher or not but I am fairly certain that teachers can't add holiday on to the end of maternity leave if some of it falls during summer holidays. I know lots of people though who have played the system so they would come back for just one week before a holiday period (either Christmas, Easter or New Year) which would mean going back to full pay for those holidays. So if you were due in July and intended to have a whole year off, you could return to work for the last week of term the following July, and go back on to full pay but effectively work for one week then have another 6 weeks off (summer holiday) but on full pay.

It's completely appropriate to work with your employer to arrange a maternity period that best suits you, your baby and your workplace. The law is very clear on how to go about this and if it's such that you return just before a holiday period then so be it. That's hardly 'playing the system'.

becca0417

No you won't be able to add it on unfortunately. You could go back before a holiday (eg the first day of the Christmas or Easter holidays) & get paid for those 2 weeks without working them though.

emz118

If you are a teacher or support staff who is a union member, look at your union guidelines, nasuwt's were really helpful, but here's my situation, which may help you...

I'm due Feb 26th. I plan to teach until half term (Last teaching day 14th Feb) but my mat leave starts on the Monday after half term (24th Feb) That means I don't lose that week's holiday in my maternity leave. However, my mat leave then carries on for 52 consecutive weeks, regardless of holidays etc.

I actually plan to go back in September, when baby will be about 6 months ish. but my return to work date will be at the end of July, meaning I get paid over the summer, when I will be planning all next year's stuff anyway. I don't believe this is "playing the system" at all!

Having said all that, I don't know how many weeks my contract is for!

MrsDrink

daisiegg wrote: »

then have another 6 weeks off (summer holiday) but on full pay.

This is misleading. Teachers, whilst receiving a salary of 1/12th of their pay each month, are not paid for the summer holidays.

claire16c

Yes my friend went back to work 1 week be before the Summer hols so her maternity pay stopped & full pay started again!

Marie27lol

Thank you for all your responses.

I get paid 1/12 months.

Playing the system - well its the same if someone saves all their leave and takes it off afterward the end of maternity leave... but its all about luck and timing.


Work doesn't know I am trying, as there could conceiving problems, and we began trying before I even got the job, 20mths ago!!


Well until it's confirmed, it is all moat-point


M

NB considering the way the organisation is overloading us, with less folks and more work, sighs... just a little moan

continualdiamond

I've been on maternity leave since the 5th September. I'm a teaching assistant and went back to work for 2 days after the 6 weeks holiday. I didn't have to work any I could of chose to start my leave on the 3rd but I wanted to do the 2 inset days.

In terms of playing the system well it worked in my favour with my 6 weeks holidays not counting as leave and I plan to return to work the day before May half term so half term I am back on full pay.

I will then just have to work 8 weeks I think before it is summer holidays again. If I don't go back, thus having a year off it means being on summer holidays with no pay which is just stupid.

Marie27lol

Well Ladies,

I don't have to wonder for another month, bad news

M