Your Legal Rights
In 2015 the law concerning maternity and parental leave in the UK changed. All employers must by law provide basic (statutory) rights to the new mothers who work for them. Your employer may well provide additional provision and benefits so you should consult your contract of employment, your Staff Handbook or your Human Resources (HR) department for specific details.
Your Basic Rights
The law says that pregnant women are protected from harm in the workplace and have the right not to be dismissed or unfavourably treated because of their pregnancy. Most employed mothers are entitled to 52 weeks’ maternity leave and 39 weeks’ Statutory Maternity Pay or Maternity Allowance. Mothers with children born on or after 5 April 2015 may also be able to convert some of their maternity leave and pay into Shared Parental Leave and Pay which they or their partner can take on a more flexible basis in the first year of their child’s life. This applies both to women in opposite-sex and same-sex relationships.
You are entitled to paid time off for ante-natal appointments and there is no maximum amount of time off allowed. The time should be that which is reasonable to attend the appointment and for travel to and from the appointment. You do not have to make up the lost time or use your annual holiday leave to cover for these appointments.
Giving Notice - What you Need to Do
You are required to give your employer notice of your intention to take maternity leave no later than the 15th week before your baby is due. The notice provided must include the fact that you are pregnant, the date you expect your baby to be due and the date you plan to begin your maternity leave (you are not able to begin your leave period more than 11 weeks before your due date).
Around the 20th week of your pregnancy (usually after your 20 week scan) your midwife (or doctor) will provide you with a MATB1 form - this is your Maternity Certificate (if you are not automatically provided with this you may need to ask your midwife for it). You will need to sign this and forward it to your HR department (or line manager) by your 25th week of pregnancy. This enables your employer to process your maternity leave and pay.
Maternity Leave
Regardless of how long you have been employed with your current employer, you are entitled to up to 52 weeks' maternity leave. Following the birth you must take two weeks' maternity leave (at least) - this is known as Compulsory Maternity Leave.
If your baby is born before your leave period is due to start, your maternity leave period is automatically triggered to start on the date following the birth. Your employer can insist you start your maternity leave earlier than planned if, during the last 4 weeks of your pregnancy, you have a pregnancy-related absence or illness.
Maternity Pay
For independent and up-to-date advice on maternity pay and related matters, see the Citizens' Advice pages here.
You are entitled to paid time off for ante-natal appointments and there is no maximum amount of time off allowed. The time should be that which is reasonable to attend the appointment and for travel to and from the appointment. You do not have to make up the lost time or use your annual holiday leave to cover for these appointments.
Giving Notice - What you Need to Do
You are required to give your employer notice of your intention to take maternity leave no later than the 15th week before your baby is due. The notice provided must include the fact that you are pregnant, the date you expect your baby to be due and the date you plan to begin your maternity leave (you are not able to begin your leave period more than 11 weeks before your due date).
Around the 20th week of your pregnancy (usually after your 20 week scan) your midwife (or doctor) will provide you with a MATB1 form - this is your Maternity Certificate (if you are not automatically provided with this you may need to ask your midwife for it). You will need to sign this and forward it to your HR department (or line manager) by your 25th week of pregnancy. This enables your employer to process your maternity leave and pay.
Maternity Leave
Regardless of how long you have been employed with your current employer, you are entitled to up to 52 weeks' maternity leave. Following the birth you must take two weeks' maternity leave (at least) - this is known as Compulsory Maternity Leave.
If your baby is born before your leave period is due to start, your maternity leave period is automatically triggered to start on the date following the birth. Your employer can insist you start your maternity leave earlier than planned if, during the last 4 weeks of your pregnancy, you have a pregnancy-related absence or illness.
Maternity Pay
For independent and up-to-date advice on maternity pay and related matters, see the Citizens' Advice pages here.
