Maternity leave question. UK

Hi all. My plan was to work until 2 weeks before my due date and then take paid holiday for 2 weeks. I visited the hospital yesterday and spoke to my consultant about the stress I get at work and that I need to start unwinding. I'm going to take sick leave with self certification for a week, then she is signing me off for 2 weeks. My team leader did a runner just before the Financial year end in September so I had to sort her sh*t out but have had enough. She should be back next week when I plan to start my sick leave. Nobody knows about my change of plan. After these 3 weeks being on sick leave (if they let me, as I heard, they can automatically send me on maternity leave 😒), I want to take 3 weeks paid annual leave that would take me to only 2 weeks before my due date so I can start my maternity leave. Question, if they don't like me being off sick for so long and start my maternity leave, would I lose my paid holiday, or it will just be cancelled? Is it worth booking it at all? Thank you so much 💓

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Hi, usually if you go off sick with a pregnancy related illness from 36 weeks your mat leave automatically begins. You wouldn’t lose your holidays though, you would just have them to take at the other end of your mat leave. You need to do what is right for you ❤️. If you need the extra rest and to be away from the stress then it sounds like you are doing the right thing xx

I’m no expert but as far as I know. ..your holiday is yours that you have accrued from working. You shouldn’t lose it, would just be cancelled and maybe rolled over to next year or get paid for it. As you have said though, your employer can make you start your maternity early and will be at their discretion.

They can only enforce maternity leave starting in the 4 weeks before your due date so if you take 3 weeks sick, then 2 weeks holiday, then 2 weeks maternity before your due date you should be fine. But, in short no you should not loose your holiday. They’ll either have to pay you for it or carry it over to the end of your maternity.

You are allowed to roll all those holidays and use them at the end of mat leave, so it should work out the same length of time, even if you do mat leave first, then holidays.

Same as what Nicola said. I was advised the same.

I was on sick from around 26 weeks all the way up to 37 weeks, and then had holiday until I was 40 weeks. Then maternity leave x

You won't lose your holiday but I'd be careful with going off sick so close to your due date as they may just start your maternity leave.

Your sick leave due to pregnancy related issues will trigger your maternity 4 weeks prior to your due date. Legally the company only need to give you a year holiday pay if you end up quitting while in MAT leave so if you took 52 weeks you would loose what you have but get a years worth of accrued over your mat leave. Depends if you’re planning to go back, they can also refuse your holiday request so don’t necessarily plan it that way. Sick leave is much safer if you’re having issues with work as you’re protected but it has to be pregnancy related

You should be able to carry your holiday to the end of your maternity, at least I can. Sick leave as Nicola said. I believe legally they cannot make you take maternity unless it is pregnancy related and within 4 weeks of your due date. So 36 weeks sounds about right. Your timing of this, unless I'm being an idiot with my maths sounds like it would be completely fine. Even better if your sick leave reason isn't noted as a pregnancy related issue. As for your management and work place. Cover your own backside legally and get out. In any job. Whether you stack shelves or save lives on the daily. You are a number. If you were to cease to exist tomorrow the organisation would continue to run. However, there is only one of you to your family and your baby. Look after yourself first and put your feet up ☺️❤️

Just to note, it’s not an absolute certainty that being off sick after 36weeks will trigger any maternity leave to start. Your employer *can* but that doesn’t mean they *will*

You will not lose your holiday, it will carry over. And you will continue to earn more whilst you're on maternity leave. However; please note that by going off sick, they'll start your maternity leave if your note suggests / can be interpreted that it's pregnancy related. I used to work in payroll

@Natalie starting mat leave early is at the companies discretion. It’s not a dead cert.

You should call ACAS (if you’re UK) they’ll be able to guide and answer all your questions. Can drop their number here if you like They were great with me a previous employer during my pregnancy

@Hannah if you can please 🙏 thank you

0300 123 1100 Little tip. Write down your questions before calling so you don’t get flustered, really helped me

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