Your other rights in pregnancy

What am I entitled to during maternity leave?
You are still entitled to your statutory rights (i.e. rights that apply by law to all employees in this country) throughout your maternity leave. For example, everyone has a legal right to 28 days paid annual leave whether they are on maternity leave or not. Also your employer must not discriminate against you by failing to consider you for opportunities such as promotion or a pay rise.

The following rights continue during OML and AML: the notice period in your contract of employment will still apply (if either you or your employer wish to terminate your employment) you will be entitled to redundancy pay (after two years? service) disciplinary and grievance procedures will apply if your contract has a section which states that you must not work for any other company, this will still apply.

Your contractual rights (i.e. terms and conditions, such as a company car or paid holidays) also continue throughout your maternity leave, apart from your normal pay. During the first 39 weeks of your leave you will probably be entitled to SMP or MA (see Money link). After that your leave will usually be unpaid. Some employers offer extra maternity pay, so check your contract or ask the human resources department or your union representative.

If you are made redundant whilst on maternity leave, your employer must offer you any suitable alternative work that is available. If there is none, they must pay you any notice and redundancy pay that you are entitled to.