Giving notice-I'm confused

[Little nic]

Hi all,


I'm currently on mat leave receiving SMP,I originally requested to take 26 weeks off,but with plenty of notice I asked to extend to 39 weeks which was fine.
Since then I have been looking at my options and may of found an evening job which fits in better with littleun.
If I needed to start this new job before my mat leave is up and I hand my notice in to my current employer am I doing everything correct or can I have money taken off me or what.

Have been told I would have to at least return to my old job to do at least one shift or I would have to pay some Money back,this seems crazy to me.


Please advise

 

[womblemum]

In your job contract it should say if you have to repay any maternity pay they give you over the statutory amount if you do not return. They cannot require you to pay back SMP / 6 weeks at 90% if that is all you received because that is the amount everyone gets. The only other thing to look at is if you took your holiday before mat leave - ie the days you would have accrued on leave before you actually 'accrued' them.

 

[My_First]

You need to look at your contract and see if they have an enhanced maternity package (addtional maternity pay). As the PP said you will NOT have to pay back SMP, but you need to look at your Ts and Cs with regards to the extra pay.

Also, unless you want to forfeit your SMP, you cannot start work earlier that your payment period, even with a new job.

 

[Little nic]

Thanks for replies,I understand I won't receive payments once or if I start a new job before my 39 weeks are up,but was worried I would have to pay any of my previous payments back,I've also just been receiving basic SMP.Also some people were saying they thought I had to return to work even if it was just one shift,of which I don't want to do.

 

[My_First]

Thanks for replies,I understand I won't receive payments once or if I start a new job before my 39 weeks are up,but was worried I would have to pay any of my previous payments back,I've also just been receiving basic SMP.Also some people were saying they thought I had to return to work even if it was just one shift,of which I don't want to do.

As long as its SMP, and you give notice as set out in your contract, then you wont have to pay anything.