What are my right if wish to take additional maternity leave

[jolene1973]

I am currently on maternity leave and wish to take additional maternity leave, ideally 3 months but get the impression from my employer that longer than this would not be desirable. I am really being made to feel like my being away from work is a real incovenience to them!

[stoo_pid]

As long as you have completed 26 weeks� continuous service with your employer by the beginning of the 14th week before your child is due you are fully entitled to take additional maternity leave and your boss cannot stop you. AML starts immediately after ordinary maternity leave and you can take up to 26 further weeks. Its usually unpaid but that would depend on your contract (although from what you've written, I can't imagine you'll be getting any pay)

Click here , here , here and here for more info.

[jolene1973]

That is just as I thought. I was hoping to take an extra three months and then take 2 weeks paid leave immediately after (as accrued whilst on paid maternity) but the leave has been refused! If I can take up to 6 months without permission am I right in thinking I could just take 4 months unpaid so that I can specifically have the 2 weeks off that I need. When exactly am I entitled to the annual leave I have accrued. Can I be paid the monetary value whilst on unpaid additional maternity?

I want to be as flexible and professional as possible in returning to work on the basis most suited to my employer but feel the longer I wish to spend time with my baby the more inconvenient this is to them.

[Sparkles3]

I imagine different work places have slightly differing policies. However, in my place of work (central government), it is essential to return to work for a period prior to being permitted to take any accrued leave from maternity (regardless of how long the maternity leave has been ie. whether paid or unpaid). It has been accepted in my case that one day would be sufficient to count as a return to work - a little farcical you could say, but from my perspective, they are being flexible within the rules.

Perhaps you could approach your employer and arrange something similar?