Hey ladies

I just wondered if anyone can help me. I really dont wanna go back to work. Me and OH have discussed this and we could afford for me to stay at home and not work especially as the money i would have earned would all go on chilcare so were not actually loosing anything! Yay!
The only problem is i have taken full mat pay. I have had full pay for 8 weeks and now on half pay for about 13 weeks i think. I know i dont have to pay back smp but would i have to pay back the extra that work gave me? How long do you have to go back before u dont have to pay it back? And can u go back part time etc?
I did discuss with work the possiblity of me switching to part time and only do nights (say 2 a week) when i went on maternity and they said that i could only work eve and nights if there were jobs avalible, now if they cant offer me eve or nights i would have to leave therefore would they still make me pay it back even if its them who cant accomadate me?

Its all so confussing! xx:\?

hiya, you dont have to pay anything back at all, but you do have to work your notice, but if your notice is say 4 weeks you can send them your letter of resignation and class the last 4 weeks of maternity as your notice. does that mae sense?lol.. thats what i did anyway,

you are well within your rights to ask for flexible hours that suit you, if these cant be offered then you have no choice but to leave your job.

i would deffinatly spea to your employer or if youd rather your local citizens advice, :)

GL, hope it all wors out for you xxx

Just noticed this so you may have it sorted by now - but do you work for the NHS? I only ask cos I did and that was the pay that I got - if so, you will have to go back for 3 calender months (but some of that can be annual leave, and it can be part time) or you'll have to pay back anything you've been paid over SMP. It's probably best to give your HR department a call to clarify.

Also, they have to have very good reason to refuse your request to change your hours - it might be worth speaking to HR about this too.

yea unfortunatly i do work for the nhs! I already mentioned about going back part time evenings or nights and they said onyl if a job was avalible! They have also filled my fullt time job day job! So im a bit confused as to where there fit me in?! Im not gonna sort it untill afetr xmas as due to go back in march! xxx

Well I work for the local council so my mat package is along the same lines as you guys.

I have to go back to work for 3 months to keep the 1/2 pay bit. This can be however on reduced hours part time etc.

With regards to filling your job, they HAVE to offer you an alternative if they have done this

xxx

I really dont mind if they cant offer me anything but then i expect not to be asked for the extra back. I dont mind going back for 3 months part time and ill have anual leave from this year to use!
xxx

I'm in the same situation - I work for the NHS in Manchester and am due to go back in on Monday! I will be handing my notice in as we just cannot afford child care for our 2 girls. I will be very tight to afford it for the next 3 months and I may have to take a loan out to pay for that! So much for bloomin tax credits!

Grace_and_Ruby, don't forget about your annual leave, you still accumulate it while on maternity leave and you can use it as part of your 3 months, it counts as being at work. My maternity leave ended mid March, but I took leave until the end of March so actualy went back 1st April - my 3 months was counted from mid-March though as I was technically back at work then.
If you have some leave to take or that you've added to maternity leave, at least that's a few less days childcare you need to pay for.

Yea childcare is the main reason for me not going back i worked out by the time a pay childcare if i was to go back full time id earn just over £100 after tax! Rubbish! Think were just do without!

Well i have tried to arrage going back to work and so far no-one can be bothered to even call me back! That was 3 weeks ago and still waiting! Maybe they dont want me back that would be a result!

xx