When are you thinking you'll stop work?

[GoldenDragon]

I'm slightly different to you all as I'm in sixth form. After we break up in July I won't be going back until January, my teachers are going to supply me with work from September to Christmas xx

 

[Spinneygirl]

I plan to finish 4 weeks before, i think im taking all my maternity first and then topping up with annual leave at the end, work says theres no rush to tell them exactly as long as i give 2/3 months notice xxx

 

[Karate Kid]

Hey Hun,

I can't see anything wrong with how you are planing your leave and ML from what you have said.

I am planning on stopping work at 36/37 week but if allowed I will use my annual leave (subject to my impossible boss agreeing on this). ML will start on my EDD 10th August and if we can afford it hubby and I have decided that I am not going back to work! (Not telling work this though as I don't know what financial challenges the next year will bring) x

 

[Loula]

I'd love to not go abck to work however out maternity policy states that if we dont go abck then we are entitled to pay back all that they have given so id defo look into that just incase xxx

 

[Karate Kid]

I'd love to not go abck to work however out maternity policy states that if we dont go abck then we are entitled to pay back all that they have given so id defo look into that just incase xxx

Hey Hun, I only get SMP so I know I will not have to pay anything back x

 

[Emily0505]

My EDD is 11th August and my last working day is 26th June. I have booked off all my holiday to take before hand and I think my mat leave starts on 24th July, about 3 weeks before my EDD.

I can't wait to finish work!

XX

 

[Daydreaming]

I was all game for working as close to my Due date as possible. But with the weather being warm and melting on the train/tube to work (I have a 1.5hours commute each way) I'm being more realistic and am planning to have a month off. So baby is due 1st July, I hope to finish 1st June.

My baby brain has already affected some of my work - I see things I need to redo at least once a week!

As a temp my holiday is a bit squiffy - but I should have earnt some holiday to use up before I start MAT leave.

Thought of finishing work in roughly 10 weeks is fab!

 

[FirstBabyEek]

After 36 weeks it's pretty hard tbh. I was able to finish at 33 due to holidays etc so have been lucky

But it is true that your maternity pay has to start on the day baby is born. So if when baby comes you're still using up annual leave you will lose these days.

So in my mind not worth losing the equivalent of full days pay!!

But the Directgov website says:

'SMP will start from any day you choose once you have stopped work to have your baby'

??
xx

 

[FirstBabyEek]

I'd love to not go abck to work however out maternity policy states that if we dont go abck then we are entitled to pay back all that they have given so id defo look into that just incase xxx

Hey Hun, I only get SMP so I know I will not have to pay anything back x

Yes, I'm the same, only getting SMP, which is fine. If we can afford it also then I'm considering not going back either. Certainly not full time.

I'm not disclosing this to my boss though!!
x

 

[angie84]

Im prob leaving when i go into labour.lol
me and my mum run a bridal shop so im not self employed she pays my wages. but im here 6 days a week (7 if wedding fayers)
and prob come back after 6 weeks or so cause hubby loosing job 20th, hes got a new one but its crap pay. just hoping we can get tax credits etc to live.
im starting to stuggle now with work, lifting dresses and getting on the floor for pinning hems. but needs must.

 

[babyem]

I think I will end up breaking up from uni in July x

 

[coruscating17]

After 36 weeks it's pretty hard tbh. I was able to finish at 33 due to holidays etc so have been lucky

But it is true that your maternity pay has to start on the day baby is born. So if when baby comes you're still using up annual leave you will lose these days.

So in my mind not worth losing the equivalent of full days pay!!

But the Directgov website says:

'SMP will start from any day you choose once you have stopped work to have your baby'

??
xx

I think you need to check that as I think it might only relate to before birth. I'm pretty sure the latest you can start mat leave is the day of birth. I'm using most of my annual leave to reduce my hours in June to 2 days per week then will use up remaining leave in the first week of July before starting mat leave. I'm not sure what my work will do about un-used holiday if baby comes before due date of 9th July. I'm then going to tag on my accrued annual leave at the end of my mat leave even though I probably won't go back to that job. As I'm only gettin mat allowance I won't have to pay anything back x

 

[Lolly85x]

After 36 weeks it's pretty hard tbh. I was able to finish at 33 due to holidays etc so have been lucky

But it is true that your maternity pay has to start on the day baby is born. So if when baby comes you're still using up annual leave you will lose these days.

So in my mind not worth losing the equivalent of full days pay!!

But the Directgov website says:

'SMP will start from any day you choose once you have stopped work to have your baby'

??
xx

I'm pretty sure this is the case, my mat policy states if I have not already started maternity leave when my baby is born it will kick in the day after I give birth.

 

[FirstBabyEek]

After 36 weeks it's pretty hard tbh. I was able to finish at 33 due to holidays etc so have been lucky

But it is true that your maternity pay has to start on the day baby is born. So if when baby comes you're still using up annual leave you will lose these days.

So in my mind not worth losing the equivalent of full days pay!!

But the Directgov website says:

'SMP will start from any day you choose once you have stopped work to have your baby'

??
xx

I think you need to check that as I think it might only relate to before birth. I'm pretty sure the latest you can start mat leave is the day of birth. I'm using most of my annual leave to reduce my hours in June to 2 days per week then will use up remaining leave in the first week of July before starting mat leave. I'm not sure what my work will do about un-used holiday if baby comes before due date of 9th July. I'm then going to tag on my accrued annual leave at the end of my mat leave even though I probably won't go back to that job. As I'm only gettin mat allowance I won't have to pay anything back x

Thanks, I've sent all the info to our accountant at work who does all our wages. Page 10 of the DWP guidance note N17A which relates to SMP states that we have the right to choose the date that SMP starts and the date that Mat Leave also starts.

Either way the holiday accrued is owed to me so I can at worst tack it onto the end of my mat leave if necessary.

Gosh, it's sooo confusing! Thanks for all your help ladies xx

 

[beckyboo1]

You can choose when it starts hun, but if baby comes before that date that's the date it starts

 

[FirstBabyEek]

Thanks everyone, I spoke to our accountant today and he spoke to HMRC, it would appear that I cant delay the start of SMP until after the baby is born, it kicks in the day after Pickle arrives. I guess I understand why.

But interestingly HMRC said that if are still owed holiday for that year that you havent taken, you shouldnt have to loose it but that your employer can pay you SMP and holiday entitlement in the same week. So I with regard to my holiday entitlement, I dont have to 'use it or loose it' - which is great and what I was worried about.

The alternatives are tack it on the front (but that means less money in my pocket) or at the end (but some employers dont like carrying holdiay over).

Thanks everyone for taking the time to respond.
xx

 

[mumbum]

I too am very unsure what to do about mat leave. I am a community care assistant and so although my employer is very understanding and protective it is hard work and with SPD already kicking in (i had this first time round but was at uni so not working) i just dont know when to go off. And to top it off have been told that at the moment I have placenta previa, so if this hasn't changed by week 36 I'll be having baby early by c section! so I guess I have to plan to finish at least by week 36 incase- if the pain from spd is bearable???? really sympathise with you on this decision its a tricky one and then theres the finances lke you say..........takes some thinking through doesnt it!

 

[Karate Kid]

Glad you have it all sorted hun.... I think because our bosses are dificult (to say the least) it makes our decisions so awkward. How many weeks before Pickles EDD have you stated you would like to take?

I seriously need to start thinking about how I am going to manage my holiday/ML.... I think 2/3 weeks before my EDD should be enough and I should be able to use my holiday (well company policy states that I can)
xx

 

[jrm06]

I was very confused too.
my boss said i am intilted to all of this years AL. so i have decided to save it and take all of august off as holiday and then start ML on the 1st of september. LO is due 3rd of september.
Wish it was all simple!! X

 

[FirstBabyEek]

Glad you have it all sorted hun.... I think because our bosses are dificult (to say the least) it makes our decisions so awkward. How many weeks before Pickles EDD have you stated you would like to take?

I seriously need to start thinking about how I am going to manage my holiday/ML.... I think 2/3 weeks before my EDD should be enough and I should be able to use my holiday (well company policy states that I can)
xx

Its a shame that hes so awkward, it means that I've had to reasrach everything first, so that when I speak to him that I know my rights and I follow up in writing. He's already cross that I get a year ML and holiday entitlement too - grrrr!

I was planning to work to 38 weeks and use the final 2 weeks as holiday. I'll have 45 days holiday owed when I leave. So I'll use as many as needed from 38 weeks until Pickle is actually born and start my SMP the day after he arrives. The remaining days holiday I think I'll tack onto the end of my ML so that I get as much time at home with Pickle as I can.
xxx