The first few months and years of a baby's life are so special, and they don't last long. If you're still in the midst of the chaos and joy of looking after your new baby, congratulations - make the most of it!
You may be looking at the calendar and worrying that it's soon time to go back to work. The first year really does fly by. And the thought of returning to work - and leaving your little one - is difficult for most parents. You might start asking yourself the question, “Can I extend my maternity leave?”. You’re definitely not on your own with that one!
It can be tough to leave your little one. So let's take a look at some ways you may be able to extend your time at home with your new baby.
How much maternity leave are you entitled to?
In a nutshell, all employed women in the UK are entitled to maternity leave of up to 52. The first 26 weeks are called "Ordinary Maternity Leave", and the remaining 26 are "Additional Maternity Leave". You can also get up to 39 weeks of paid maternity leave, called Statutory Maternity Pay.
If you're self-employed or on contract work, you may not be eligible for maternity leave, but other benefits include statutory maternity pay, maternity allowance, and various benefits and tax credits. We've written before about how much maternity leave all new mothers are entitled to, which answers this question in more detail.
What is Additional Maternity Leave?
The first two weeks after your baby is born are called Compulsory Maternity Leave, and all mothers must take two weeks off work after childbirth by law. The following 24 weeks are called Ordinary Maternity Leave, covering the period most maternity leave allows mothers to spend with their newborns.
The next 26 weeks - taking us all the way up to 52 weeks postpartum - are called Additional Maternity Leave, and mums can choose to take this straight after their OML. However, bear in mind that usually only the first 13 weeks of AML are paid, with the final 13 weeks going unpaid for the majority of working mums.
You can read more in our post on taking Additional Maternity Leave. If you haven't yet taken your full 52 weeks, you may be able to extend your maternity leave to a year. Speak to your employer to discuss extending your maternity leave to the full 52 weeks.
Do you accrue holiday while on maternity leave?
One thing a lot of mums wonder about is what happens to their holiday time while they're on maternity leave. It's a great question, and the answer is generally yes – you usually do continue to or build up holiday entitlement while you're on maternity leave!
Think of it this way, you're still an employee, even though you're taking time off to care for your little one. And most employment contracts include holiday accrual as part of the deal. So, your holiday entitlement usually keeps ticking over while you're on maternity leave, just like it would if you were at work.
There are a few things to keep in mind:
- Company policies: While the general rule is holiday accrual, every company has its own policies. Some might have slightly different ways of calculating or managing holiday during maternity leave.
- Carrying over holiday: You might not be able to use all the holiday you accrue during your maternity leave right away. Often, you'll be able to carry it over to the next holiday year.
- Combining holiday and maternity leave: Some mums choose to use some of their accrued holiday at the beginning or end of their maternity leave to extend their time off. This can be a great way to ease back into work gradually. We’ll touch on this a bit more in the next section.
So, in short, you probably accrue holiday during maternity leave, which is great news! But always double-check your company's policies to be absolutely sure.
Can you extend maternity leave past 52 weeks?
So, you've reached the end of your 52 weeks of maternity leave and you're wondering, "Is there any way to stretch this out a little longer?". Unfortunately, there's no way to extend maternity leave past 52 weeks. However, there is one way you might be able to spend a little extra time at home with your little one once maternity leave is drawing to a close: by using your holiday time.
Remember how we talked about accruing holiday while you're on maternity leave? Well, this is where that comes in handy! You can use any holiday time you've accrued before your maternity leave started, or the holiday you've built up during your 52 weeks off, to extend your time at home.
While you'll stay home from work a little longer with the wee one, remember that legally and professionally you'll still be classed as 'back at work' during this period, though. You can speak to your employer about allocating holiday time to maximise the time you're off work after your baby's born.
How do you go about extending your maternity leave?
Now you know that you can do it, how do you actually go about arranging this extra time at home with the little one? Here's a breakdown of the typical steps involved:
- Check your company's policy: First things first, grab your employee handbook and look for their specific maternity leave policy. This will give you all you need to know about their procedures, notice periods, and anything else you need. Every company is slightly different, so this is a crucial first step.
- Plan ahead: The earlier you start thinking about extending your leave, the better. This gives you plenty of time to chat with your employer, figure out your finances, and make any necessary arrangements.
- Talk to your employer: Once you've got a good understanding of your company's policy, schedule a chat with your manager or HR department. This is your chance to discuss your plans, ask any questions you have, and formally request the extension. It's usually best to do this in writing as well, so you have a record of your request.
- Formal notification: Most companies require a formal written notification of your intention to extend your maternity leave. This letter or email should clearly state how long you want to extend your leave for and the date you plan to return to work.
- Confirmation: After you've submitted your request, make sure you receive confirmation from your employer. This will give you peace of mind knowing that your request has been approved and that everyone is on the same page.
- Consider holiday leave: If you're planning to use accrued holiday time to extend your time off even further, discuss this with your employer at the same time you request your maternity leave extension.
- Keep records: Keep copies of all correspondence related to your maternity leave extension, including your initial request, any emails, and the confirmation from your employer.
Can you take more maternity leave if you're self-employed?
If you're self-employed, you're not entitled to maternity leave. However, you're also your own boss, which means you can take as much time off as you want and can afford. Self-employed mums can choose to extend their own maternity leave beyond 52 weeks. However, you won't get paid for longer than 39 weeks, which is the maximum length of time you can claim Maternity Allowance for. If you want to extend your time away from work beyond this, you may need to dip into savings.
What happens if you decide to leave your job during maternity leave?
It's not uncommon for new moms to re-evaluate their career goals during maternity leave. Maybe your priorities have shifted. Or perhaps you've realised you want something different from your work life. If you're considering leaving your job during maternity leave, there are a few things you should consider.
Starting with your rights. You have the right to resign from your job at any time, including during maternity leave. Your resignation should be in writing and include your notice period, pretty much like any standard resignation.
Keep in mind that it's illegal for your employer to discriminate against you because you're pregnant or on maternity leave. If you feel you're being treated unfairly, you should seek advice.
Leaving your job means giving up your maternity pay and any other benefits. Think carefully about how this will affect your finances. If you've already started your maternity leave, you may be required to return to work for your notice period. You should also put some thought into how leaving your job might affect your future career prospects. Will it be easy to find a new job in your field?
Making the most of your maternity leave
So, there you have it! We've explored the ins and outs of maternity leave, from understanding your entitlements to extending your time off and even navigating the possibility of leaving your job.
Whether you're planning to take the full 52 weeks, use your holiday time strategically, or explore other options, make sure you understand your rights and make the choices that are best for you and your family.
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