Maternity rights: quick Q&A

Q: Am I allowed time off work for antenatal appointments?
A: Rachel Roe, legal adviser with Working Families, says, 'No matter how long you have been in your job, you are entitled to reasonable time off for antenatal care.

You should be paid at your normal rate and you don't have to make up the time. It is against the law for your employer to refuse you time off or fail to give you your preoper salray, so take advice if this happens.'

Q: Will I have to pay back my Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) if I don't reurn to work?
A: No you won't. Even if you've told your company you're going back and then change your mind while on maternity leave, you don't have to repay your SMP.

Some companies pay more than the basic maternity benefits. If that's the case, you may have to repay the extra money you've received over and above SMP, but only if this was agreed in advance.'

Q: What happens if my childminder or baby is sick when I'm back in my job?
A: You're allowed to take emergency time off in this case. Emergency family leave is usually unpaid, though some bosses give paid leave, so check your contract.

How long you take off should be reasonable - if your child falls ill, you can take enough time off to deal with their initial needs. But you'll need to make other arrangements if you decide to stay off work to look after your child yourself.

Start a discussion :: Print this article ::