Maternity leave can lead to worries about losing touch with developments at work. The Maternity Alliance tells you how to keep in the swim from home

I am worried about losing touch with developments at work. Can I ask for regular updates during my maternity leave?
Yes, you can ask your boss or Personnel Department to send you any news issued to staff during the time you are away. For instance, you could ask to be sent newsletters, minutes of staff meetings or information on social events. If you are in a union, ask your union representative to send you any branch or workplace newsletters or other union information.

There are no hard and fast rules on how much or how little contact there should be during maternity leave. Although some women may want to keep informed about work, others may not, or may find it difficult once they have their baby. As a matter of good practice, it is advisable for employers to talk to their staff before going on maternity leave to make individual arrangements about keeping in touch.

You may find it helpful to keep in touch with a colleague that you get on with and who knows your job. At the very least you will keep up with the latest office gossip. It may also be a good idea to take your baby in one lunch hour to give yourself the feel of working life again.

Do I have to give notice of my intention to return to work at the end of maternity leave?
You do not have to give any notice if you are going back to work at the end of your leave. You simply go back to work on the date you are due back. This will be 18 weeks from the day you started your leave if you are taking ordinary maternity leave (OML), or 29 weeks from the start of the week of birth if you are taking additional maternity leave (AML) (for women who have been employed for one year and 11 weeks by their due date). If you wish to return to work early you have to give three weeks notice.

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.

Should I be consulted if there are going to be redundancies?
Yes, you should be consulted along with other staff. If you are made redundant during maternity leave, you are entitled to first refusal of any suitable alternative work that is available. If there is none, your employer must pay any redundancy and notice pay you are entitled to. For more information, please send £1 and an SAE for the Maternity Alliance factsheet Redundancy during pregnancy and maternity leave.

Can I ask to change my hours or work part time after maternity leave?
You are entitled to return to exactly the same job when you return from OML. If you are taking AML you are also entitled to return to exactly the same job, but if your employer can show it is not practical for you to have your old job back, you have the right to a suitable alternative job on similar terms and conditions. If your job is being changed on return, please send £1 and an SAE for the Maternity Alliance factsheet Returning to work.

If you need to work different hours/days because of childcare or you think you will be unable to continue full time, your employer must seriously consider your request and should allow you to change your hours/days unless there is a good business reason for refusing. Although your employer is not legally obliged to reduce your hours or let you go part-time, you may have a case of indirect sex discrimination if your request is refused without good reason. For information on negotiating changes to your present job, please send £1.50 and an A5 SAE for the Maternity Alliance leaflet Child Friendly Working Hours.

Maternity Alliance Information Line: 020 7588 8582
For publications please write to:
Maternity Alliance
45 Beech Street
London
EC2P 2LX