Thinking of returning to work?
Parents in the UK are now more likely to both work. So for the majority of parents, juggling paid work and parental responsibilities forms the bulk of their waking hours.
There is no longer a need for families to make a choice between a happy and developing child and a fulfilling career
You are not alone, more and more mothers want to strike the right balance between family life and a career. Around 50% of mothers return to work within the first year after child birth and an additional 25% return within 5 years after birth. As a result new employment laws have been introduced and childcare options and funding have been expanded.
Maternity Leave
A woman who is an employee can now benefit from up to 26 weeks of ordinary maternity leave and 26 weeks of additional maternity leave making one year in total.
Maternity Pay
To qualify for Statutory
Maternity Pay (SMP) you must have been continuously employed
for at least 26 weeks before the qualifying week, which is
the 15th week before your babies due date.
You can receive SMP for up to 39 weeks, as long as you meet
the conditions. You do not have to repay it if you
decide not to go back to work or leave your job whilst
receiving SMP.
If you are employed you can choose when you want your SMP to start. Unless your baby is born sooner, the earliest SMP can start is 11 weeks before the week your baby is due. Although you can continue to work until the day of birth is you wish to do so.
Your employer will pay you 90% of
your average weekly earnings for the first six weeks of
Ordinary Maternity Leave then up to £128.73 for the
remaining 33 weeks. You pay tax and NI in the same way
as your general wages.
Returning to work
You are not allowed to return to work for two weeks after childbirth as this period is compulsory maternity leave. Otherwise if you want to return before the end of your maternity leave, you must give your employer 8 weeks notice of the date you intend to return.
When you return to work after maternity leave you have the right to return to your original job on your original conditions, unless it is not "reasonably practicable", in this case your employer must offer you a suitable alternative job on similar terms an
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