12 month if you can afford it
I'm only getting smp, but I'm going self employed as soon as we start to feel the pinch. Making money on a self employed basis does not affect smp paid due to being in employment
Every employer is different, I get 6 months full pay and then from 6-9 months it’s SMP only. I’m going to take as long as I can afford!
Depends on lot of things: your company, how you feel about leaving your baby to daycare, if you can afford staying without pay vs paying daycare, I'd you have find a daycare solution etc....I will take 1year, my company is quite generous, 18weeks full pay, then they complement a little the SMP for 20weeks, the rest of the year is without pay so will be using my savings
I agree with what everyone has said, it's about your personal finances and the policy where you work. I get full pay for 6 months so I'll be taking this and then using a bit of holiday and then working part time most likely for another 3 months.
Honestly, it's whatever you and your partner feel comfortable with/can afford. My employer has a fairly generous mat leave pay policy, (16 wks full pay) so that's probs what I am aiming for. My company is also fully remote so that helps too