Working Families on how to tell your employer that you want maternity leave

To give notice that you will be taking maternity leave, tell your employer the following things, at least 15 weeks before your baby is due. If your employer asks you to you must put it in writing. It is a good idea to keep a copy of all correspondence.

Tell your employer:

1. that you are pregnant
2. the expected week of childbirth
3. the date on which you intend to start your maternity leave

To get Statutory Maternity Pay, you must give your employer a maternity certificate (form MAT B1) which your midwife or GP will give you when you are about 20 weeks pregnant. You must give your employer at least 28 days notice of the date you want to start your maternity pay but, in practice, most women give notice for leave and pay together in the 15th week before their baby is due.

Once you have given notice, your employer must write to you within 28 days and state the date you are expected to return from maternity leave. Your employer should assume at this stage that you will be returning to work after 52 weeks.

Your employer can no longer write to you to ask you whether you intend to return to work. If you cannot give enough notice (for example because you have to go into hospital unexpectedly), you must give notice as soon as you reasonably can.

For more information call Working Families helpline on 0800 013 0313 or see our website at www.workingfamilies.org.uk.