Maternity leave

Hi there

Thanks for all the replies. I really don't mind coming back for 6 months afterwards but I don't feel it is fair to ask me to commit for 1 year after I come back (only get paid 50%). Most of my friends get full pay and they are only required to work back 6 months... Our company is also very small with no formal leave policy so I am not sure if this is required or not... Will have to wait and see what happens

Have a great weekend!

I've also just been presented with a Maternity Leave contract that stipulates that I get 4 months fully paid but that I have to stay with the company for 4 months after I come back from maternity leave else I have to pay back the monies I was paid during my maternity leave. Our maternity leave policy is quite generous though because its 100% and you're still entitled to incentives and increases for the period you are away. I also intend to come back so i signed it without batting an eyelid.

The fact that your company does offer to pay you whilst on leave is a plus.....if you're not sure you will come back perhaps dont sign it, or if you do, saev every penny so that you can pay them back if need be.

There should be something in your contract that says that you have to work for a certain amount of time after your maternity leave if you want to receive that 50%, but they would definitely have to get you to sign a specific contract confirming that before you go on maternity leave.

With my employer my contract states that i get 3 months at 100 pay, or 4 months at 75% pay, OR if i agree to work for a full year after my maternity leave is finished then I can have the 4 months at full pay.

When I applied for my maternity leave they sent me a one page document stating that I agreed to work for one full year after I returned from maternity leave. I signed it as I had every intention of going back (and did).

But you don't have to sign it, then I would have just had either 3 months at full pay or 4 months at 75%.
IF i did take 4 months at full pay and then decided after my maternity leave not to go back, I would have had to pay back one month's salary.

Phone your HR department and ask them what the exact policy is. Ask if there's any stipulation about having to work a certain amount of time after your maternity leave.

Hi,

Unfortunately they can ask you to sign such a contract now, before you go on maternity leave.

The basic conditions of employment allows for 4 months unpaid maternity leave, the fact that your company is offering you 50% of your salary is a benefit and they have the right to get you to sign a maternity contract now, before you go on maternity leave saying that if they pay you 50% of your salary you need to return to work for a set period (different company's have different policies, but the average is a year) or you have to pay them back the salary they paid you during your maternity leave.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news

Hi there,

My employer allows 4 months maternity leave with 50% of my remuneration. This is the only thing that my contract stipulates. However I was told that if you receive remuneration, your employer can force you to work back 1 year or so or otherwise you have to pay back the remuneration received while on maternity leave. Can they force me to sign a contract that stipulate this now after they found out I am pregnant? I am not sure what will happen once I return and therefore I don't want to be stuck, I stay really far from work and if I can find something closer I would definately take it.

Anyone else in the same boat?

I would really appreciate some advice