Returning to work after Mat leave

[Rainbow1234]

Hello, ive just received my letter from work confirming my mat leave, it says I must return to work after mat leave and complete 1 months service based on the hours I worked before or I need to pay back my Mat pay?! No ones discussed this with me, I was full time before and they know I'm thinking about going back 3 days, will I need to find a months full time child care?! Or do they mean I need to complete the equivalent but I can do it over a few months? So confusing, no ones explained anything and doesn't help that I only get this letter after im already on mat leave! X

 

[Alipops1986]

I'd imagine you'd have to complete the equivalent.
Have you formally requested 3 days a week and have they agreed it writing? If not, that's the first thing you need to do.

 

[Rainbow1234]

Ive spoken to them about it but they said they can't do it formally until 6 weeks before im due back so that they can look at business need. That's not until april

 

[TTT]

I'd give your hr dept a ring and they will explain it to you. I'm self employed so not something iv dealt with

 

[littlemonkey]

You won't have to pay back all of your mat pay. It will only be anything you are paid over and above SMP. For example I am paid 12 weeks half pay as well as smp. If I didn't return I would only have to pay back the 12 weeks half pay.

I would imagine that annual leave still counts as normal service, so if you had the annual leave you could book a month off at the end of your maternity leave.

 

[Ella1979]

I had the same. Basically I had to return for 3 months following maternity leave in order to keep my enhanced maternity pay (you don't have to pay back SMP if you don't return). I went from full time to part time (2 days a week). It would have been 3 months whether I was full or part time. You just need to check with HR whether it alters if you go back part time.

 

[tinselcat]

I found out after I got pregnant in the company's maternity manual/contract somewhere that if I wanted the enhanced maternity pay I had to work for at least 6 months before handing in my notice. And I'm on a 3 month notice period

Otherwise I have to pay back everything above & beyond the SMP.

I guess companies are introducing this sort of thing more now as people used to quit just after getting all the maternity pay and not returning just a few years ago.

 

[mylullaby]

My mum would have had to pay back her enhanced maternity pay when she had me 30+ years ago so I don't think it's really a new thing. Lots of companies only pay the minimum so you don't tend to hear about people having to pay anything back. I guess you just need to familiarise yourself with your own company's policy so you don't have any nasty surprises! xx

 

[littlemonkey]

I was told about the terms of mine before I went on mat leave. I was given the option to opt out of receiving the money until I returned to work after mat leave.

 

[babyslog]

I get 18 weeks full pay before my smp starts.
So i would have to work back that many weeks over my new hours (went from FT to PT at 22hrs) before I could hand in my notice if i was to leave xx

 

[Pumpkin9]

It's definitely company specific so I'd be calling hr to find out exactly what they say. I checked this out with my company as I currently work full time and it's been a hard slog going back with a toddler and doing my normal hours. After this baby I only want a job that's 3 days a week and I know I will have to find myself a job share for me to do this. Luckily for me though I don't have to pay back anything, so I am seriously considering leaving to find a job that doesn't involve weekends and bank holidays etc.

 

[Orion]

A lot of companies have clauses like this if they're paying you more than SMP. It's to prevent women abusing the mat leave system.