How to keep in touch with work during maternity leave

Your employer can only write to you 15 weeks after the start of your ordinary maternity leave asking you to confirm:

• that you are going back to work
• the date your baby was born (this means you can both work out when your additional maternity leave will end)

What should I do if I change my mind and decide not to go back to work?
If you change your mind and decide not to go back to work at the end of maternity leave you can resign in the normal way, giving the notice period required by your contract or terms and conditions at work.

NOTE: If you received Statutory Maternity Pay (90 percent of your salary for six weeks and £62.20 for twelve weeks) you do not have to repay it as all employers can claim it back from the government. If your employer paid you any additional maternity pay, you only have to pay the additional amount if that was agreed in advance.

What company benefits can I keep on maternity leave?
You are entitled to all your normal contractual benefits such as share schemes, professional subscriptions, luncheon vouchers, club membership, health and other insurance during OML. You can also keep any car provided for personal use during OML. Contractual benefits only continue during AML if your employer agrees. You are entitled to accrue holidays as normal during OML. During AML you still continue to accrue statutory holiday of 20 days a year. For more information, please send £1 and an SAE for the Maternity Alliance factsheet Rights during maternity leave.