Maternity Allowance - going back to work

[valentine]

V

 

[drea b]

You have the same rights regardless of whether you are on MA or SMP. It was one of the questions I asked when I changed jobs whilst pregnant.

Also you won't pay and tax or NI on your MA (pretty sure you do on SMP)

 

[valentine]

Thanks drea - your reply is much appreciated.

Do you have any links I can look at with this info? I can't seem to find anything online. Thank you!

Valentine Xxx

 

[Suzie and Faith]

on here http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=953

i found this:

As an employee, you are entitled to up to 52 weeks maternity leave, regardless of how long you have worked for your employer, and how many hours you work. However, you must provide your employer with the correct amount of notice and the notice requirements (as outlined above).

Your maternity leave will be divided into 26 weeks ordinary maternity leave (OML) and 26 weeks additional maternity leave (AML), and your rights will differ during each leave period. If you qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP), it will be paid for 39 weeks. As you qualify for a total of 52 weeks maternity leave, SMP will be paid for 26 weeks during your OML period, and for 13 weeks of your AML period. If you decide to take the full 52 weeks of maternity leave, the final 13 weeks will be unpaid.

also found this

Working when pregnant

Whilst you are still working, you have rights to:

* Protection of your health and safety, and that of your baby
* Paid time off for ante-natal care
* Not to suffer any unfair treatment and not to be dismissed or selected for redundancy on grounds related to your maternity

also have a look at this
http://tiger.direct.gov.uk/cgi-bin/maternity.cgi

* 52 weeks maternity leave from day one of starting a job – the distinction between Ordinary and Additional Maternity Leave remains the same.
* Statutory Maternity Pay for 39 weeks provided you have worked for your employer for 26 weeks by 15th week before the baby is due. You may qualify for Maternity Allowance if you do not qualify for SMP.
* continuation of the contract of employment except for pay
* right to return to the same employment after Ordinary Maternity Leave, if possible, or the same or similar employment after Additional Maternity Leave; protection against detriment and dismissal on account of maternity;
* protection from detrimental treatment or dismissal, including redundancy, on any grounds partly or wholly related to pregnancy;
* entitlement to 13 weeks unpaid parental leave until the child’s 5th birthday, or, if the child is in receipt of Disability Living Allowance, 18 weeks unpaid leave until the child’s 18th birthday;
* Entitlement, where appropriate to dependents’ leave;
* Right to request flexible working hours
* Partners of pregnant women and adopting parents may be entitled to paternity leave

from here http://www.worksmart.org.uk/rights/i_am_expecting_a_child_what_are

Basically your rights to return to the job are not affected by how long you have been there or whether you were pregnant at the time! hope that's of some use! xx