unpaid mat leave AFTER you've already returned to work?

[Heavenx]

I returned to work a month ago after 9 months mat leave. Husband and I decided not to take the extra 3 months mat leave without pay because we couldn't afford to do that.

However, I have not yet done 1 full week back at work due to my daughter being poorly or me being poorly. I keep gtting told I went back too early and should have stayed with her till she was 1.

So my question is this, is it too late to ask my manger for those 3 months of unpaid mat leave, although I realise I may only be entitled to 2 months now? Has anybody ever done this before?

 

[Abz1982]

you are entitled to 10 keep in touch days before you are classed as no longer on leave - so 2 weeks worth or work weeks. But I am not sure how it would work with notifications as you obviously gave them notice you were returning. You might want to speak to your HR department to see what can be done.

 

[Heavenx]

Thank you, I found out that those 13 weeks unpaid maternity leave is also called parental leave and if I didn't use it as part of my maternity leave then I can take it at any time until my daughter is 5 years old. I'll need to give 4 weeks notice though, it's a relief to know that I can take that time though should I ever need and decide to take it.

 

[Seraphim]

Hmm I'm not sure about that. Parental leave is something else I think. My staff handbook lays it out as separate, and the final 1/4 of mat leave is definitely AML - additional maternity leave.

 

[charliebear]

Hmm I'm not sure about that. Parental leave is something else I think. My staff handbook lays it out as separate, and the final 1/4 of mat leave is definitely AML - additional maternity leave.

I thought this too.

 

[Heavenx]

Thanks I'll ask more about it with my HR department, what i wrote in the post previously is what I fathomed from our paternity policy so I'll ask for someone to clarify to me. I know I definitely didn't take all the maternity leave I was entiteled to, I only took the 9 months and that's because it was paid whereas the remaining 3 were unpaid. As part of the policy is says that those 3 months can be added onto maternity leave or taken anywhere after and upto the child is 5 years old. So I guess I may have missed out on those 3 months unpaid mat leave then? If that makes sense, lol I'm starting to confuse myself even more now lol

 

[Abz1982]

u are entitled to 4 weeks a year unpaid leave for any children up to the age of 6 i believe. on top of your annual leave.