Annual leave on maternity

Are you allowed to take your full annual leave allowance prior to your maternity? As that’s what I am doing. Then you would only miss on what you might accrue from April (assuming your year runs from April-March) x

(Assuming you’re in the UK) wait until 2months before you want your mat leave to end to inform them and at the end of your notice period all holiday accrued will be paid out to you (this is a legal requirement and will include all bank holidays that have occurred during your mat leave as well). (I work in HR) x

This is my plan I don’t want to go back once I go on maternity you accumulate your holiday on maternity as if your working. Best way I can give an example is how Ive worked it out for myself . Holiday runs April -April so I had loads to take before maternity in October. Took all of my holidays before I go. In April my holidays restart I will most likely give 1 month notice and ask for my holiday to be paid out as normal with my bank holidays or if they request I can not go back still and take my holidays and pretty much work for the remainder of my holiday and then be done either way my last day I will most likely just need to hand in my computer and that’s it! Either way you are entitled to the holidays you accumulate during maternity and bank holidays no matter if you wish to stay or not!

You will need to check your maternity leave policy as well and speak to HR in your company, as well as reading your contract. My contract for example states 8 weeks notice...

Also one to think about if you had any company enhancements on pay, you may be required to pay that back if you don’t return at the end of your mat leave, you’d need to check your maternity policy x

Thank you ladies. To clarify, yes I am in England. My notice is 8 weeks and holiday year runs Jan 1st - Dec 31st. I have normal SMP, nothing above that. 39 weeks paid, up to 52 weeks then unpaid. I have agreed that I will take the rest of my AL for 2024 prior to maternity. No talk about 2025 as of yet. They are waiting on me to say if I return after 39 weeks or 52. I originally wanted o inform thr company already now that I am not coming back, thinking I will get the AL for 2025 up to the end of my maternity regardless. But from what I found online it isn't the case as from the moment of informing them I am not coming back it will be taken as my notice (so lets say I did it today, notice is 8 weeks, so end of Sept) then Oct-Dec I won't be employed hence no entitlement to AL, only SMP. So seems wise to not inform them until at some point next year as April suggested.

I also knew I wasn’t going back but I waited until the year was up and then gave my notice. I was granted my annual leave and all bank holidays. They were totally fine and understood how things change. X

I just feel really guilty knowing I am 100% not coming back (as want to stay with my LO for as long as possible and get a home office job) and I am terrible at lying. So just wanted to hear what u ladies doing and your opinions X

Take the full 12 months, plan time use your annual leave on return but give your notice at the last moment, that's what I did with my daughter. I should have gone back in the Jan but gave my 4 weeks notice in Dec and got my full 6 months accrued holiday pay (our year ran July to end of June). Lots of people do it so don't feel guilty, I might feel different if it's a small business as their budgets are often a lot tighter but mat pay is pants so got to do what you can if you know the company can afford it 😂

Definitely wait to tell them, rather than mentioning when you will return just say you intend to take the full 12months maternity leave to have time with your baby…that way they get enough cover and you accrue 52 weeks holiday xx

I agree with all above 💚 Also, whilst you are on mat leave, you don't need to talk to them, so it's not that you constantly need to carry on lying. You don't have to do KIT days either, this is only an option. You are totally entitled to change your mind about coming back at the very end of your mat leave. They really don't need to know that you have already made your mind up. 😊