Maternity Leave
What is it?
Statutory maternity leave refers to the period you take from work to give birth to your child. If you work, you are entitled to 52 weeks of maternity leave, split into 26 weeks of ordinary maternity leave and 26 weeks of supplementary maternity leave. Mothers must take a minimum of two weeks off after giving birth or four weeks if employed in a factory.
You have the right to return to your former job if you return to work during or shortly after your typical maternity leave. If you take extended maternity leave, you may be able to return to your previous position or be offered a suitable replacement. This must be on no less favourable terms than your former post, and it must be provided if your employer cannot offer back your old position on a ‘reasonably feasible’ basis. Employees who meet the requirements of the statutory maternity leave benefit are entitled to receive compensation for up to 39 weeks after the birth of their child.
Who Qualifies?
To be eligible for paid maternity leave and benefits, you must be an employee, not a ‘worker. A fixed-term contract means you may be disqualified for this opportunity. To be eligible for maternity leave, you must be at least 25 weeks pregnant and notify your employer no later than the end of the 15th week before your baby is due.
To be eligible for statutory maternity pay:
- By the time you are obligated to provide notice, you must have worked for the company for a minimum of 26 weeks
- At the very least, make £120 per week
- Provide your employer with proof of your pregnancy, including a due date
How Much Will You Get Paid?
Over 39 weeks, the amount of statutory maternity pay that you are entitled to will fluctuate. For the first six weeks, you’ll be paid at a 90% discount from your weekly average. For the following 33 weeks, you’ll either get 90% of your average weekly earnings or £151.97 every week, whichever is less.
This will be determined by your place of work, of course. It’s essential to look into your company’s maternity pay policy since some employers reward long-term employees with increased maternity compensation. However, if you do not return to work after your maternity leave, you may be asked to reimburse the extra money you received.
How to make a claim
Pregnancy notification includes the start date of your maternity leave, as well. This may often happen between 11 weeks before the expected due date and the time of birth. An MAT B1 Maternity Certificate (proof of pregnancy) must be provided to your employer. In case you have a mid-pregnancy ultrasound, your midwife may give you this certificate.
Paternity Leave
What is it?
You may take up to 2 weeks of paternity leave if you’re expecting a newborn with your partner or if you’re about to become a parent yourself. To begin, wait till the baby is born.
Who Qualifies?
Applicants must take time off to care for the newborn and fall under one of the following categories to be considered:
- The father of the child
- Mother’s partner (including partners of the same sex)
- The adoptive parent
- In the case of surrogacy, the intended parent is the person who is expecting the child
n addition, your weekly take-home pay must be at least £120. If you don’t qualify for shared or paternity leave, you may use your annual leave or take unpaid time instead. Aside from that, you are entitled to unpaid emergency leave to attend the birth of your kid. Expecting fathers may take unpaid leave to attend two prenatal appointments, each lasting six and a half hours, in addition to paternity leave.
How Much Will You Get Paid?
You’ll get £151.97 each week or 90 per cent of your typical earnings, whichever is less.
How to make a claim
In writing, you must inform your employer of your intention to take paternity leave at least 15 weeks before the baby’s due date. If you are requesting paternity leave, you must also present your employer with a copy of form SC3 – various businesses may have their version of this form.
Shared Parental Leave
What is it?
This kind of leave enables parents to split time off following the birth of a child. If parents want, they may take blocks of rest interspersed by employment times rather than taking the leave all at once.
The mother’s maternity leave or allowance must be terminated for both parents to commence paid shared parental leave. How long it lasts and how you divide it up are all your choice. However, all leave must be used between the child’s delivery day and their first birthday.
Who Qualifies?
To be eligible for shared parental leave, you must satisfy the following conditions:
- You and your partner share parenting responsibilities for your child
- Have worked for the same company for at least 26 weeks as of the 15th week before baby’s due date
- Even when on shared parental leave, you may keep working for the same company
Both parents are entitled to shared parental pay if they qualify for statutory maternity pay, maternity allowance, paternity pay, or adoption pay.
How Much Will You Get Paid?
You may be eligible for up to 90 per cent of your average weekly salary in shared parental pay or £151.97 each week, whichever is less.
How to make a claim
Each parent must provide at least eight weeks’ notice to their employer before starting the first term of shared parental leave. If you choose to take rest periods separated by periods of employment, you must give your employer at least eight weeks’ notice before each leave.
