Letting my employer know I won't be returning to work...

[BellaBoo0512]

My maternity pay ends in mid November and I won't be returning to work. I need to write a letter to inform my employer of this. What do I need to put in the letter? Since I've been on maternity leave my boss left and a new one has started, I only found this out last week when the new boss emailed me to ask me to return my keys. As far as she knows I am meant to be returning in February.

Also, does my employer legally have to pay me any annual leave that I have accrued during my maternity leave? My annual leave year runs from November - October. The company I work for have a 'use it or lose it' policy. When I went on annual leave in February they paid me the leave I'd accrued between november to that date. I asked for the whole years entitlement as I'd be on maternity leave all that time but they refused to let me take it.

Now I don't know where I stand.

 

[LDC]

Hi there,

I resigned from my job during my maternity, I wrote them a letter explaining that I wouldn't be returning and why (I had another job offer) and thanked them for their support (I always think its best to be polite, in my case they were good but I don't see the point in being bitter).

They then wrote back to me to confirm they'd had my letter and wished me well. In the letter they told me I'd accrued 14 days annual leave (this is standard, you still gain holiday whilst on maternity - it's seen as though you're still there so you lose no benefits whilst off) and they sent me a cheque in the post for my holiday pay.

I called HR before I sent my letter as I wasn't sure if I needed to give notice as I wasn't returning, but she just said to say I wasn't going back and that they'd pay me my holiday. No matter what you should be paid for the holiday you've accrued whilst on maternity; whether they pay you in your final wage (if you get one, I was oly getting MA so that's why I got a cheque) or a cheque like I did.

Maybe speak to your HR department?

X

 

[BellaBoo0512]

Okay thank you ill start writing a draft letter up. The company I work for have a HR department but its in the head office and apparently employees aren't allowed to contact HR directly. I should of accrued about 3 weeks annual leave though so I'm really hoping they pay it me. I was off sick for 4 months prior to maternity leave due to losing my dad so they have been being funny with me because of this which is one of my reasons for deciding not to go back. That and the fact that id have to make a 3 hour bus journey on 4 different buses just to get there... We moved whilst I was on leave x

 

[Pearls18]

Yeah you will get your annual leave, with my company what they did was extend the leaving date of the lady who left, so she was due back July when the pay ended but instead they classed her as on annual leave throughout July so she got paid end of July as normal as if she had been there, so she was made to "take" the days if that makes sense rather than being given a lump sum (although it amounts to the same thing I guess!)

 

[BellaBoo0512]

Ahh right! That sounds confusing but as long as I get what I'm owed then I don't mind x