Maternity Leave... I'm confused.

Hi all,

I'm confused about something, well, actually, I'm confused about everything at the moment but one thing at a time! :wall:

I have spoken with my payroll officer who has told me that even though I am casual, I am entitled to 6 weeks paid maternity leave, which is great.

Does this mean I have to stay at work right up until the end and then have the six weeks off or can I finish up earlier and have unpaid maternity leave as well? I don't know whether or not I will go back to this job (due to living arrangements) but I don't want to miss out on the 6 weeks paid leave if I am entitled to that.

Does this make sense? I am confused...

Many thanks.

Kate

Hi Kate,

Congratulations on your pregnancy!!

I left work when I was 14wks (lucky me) but I was planning on staying on until the end. From what I found out you have to work right up until min of 32 wks (don't quote me on that) to be entitled to your maternity leave. However, with taking unpaid leave before hand I am not too sure about that. Do you have a contract that states anything about it?? I know mine didn't which I wasn't happy about!!

Paid maternity leave? Do you work for the government?

32 weeks? OMG! I can't last here that long. ha ha ha! I'm so tired, although I hear this subsides after the first trimester. I'll have to check with payroll and see what they have to say about it.

It's times like this that I'd like to be rich and be able to just stay home and enjoy it all...

Better buy a tatts ticket! ;)

Oh, and no, I don't work for the government...

As far as I am aware every Co. gives you up to 52wks of maternity leave, it depends on the Co. if it's paid or unpaid!
You can start your maternity leave whenever you choose, BUT you can still ONLY have up to 52wks leave!

So if you start your maternity leave at say 20wks & delivery baby at 40wks, you have already used up 20wks of your maternity leave IYKWIM?
So bubs would be 32wks old when you go back to work..

I get 13wks full pay maternity leave, I worked Full time & I had saved up some annual leave so I finished work at 36wks gestation (23rd June) so by 23rd June next year I have to have returned to work... Does that make sense???

We must return to work for a 12mth period also & if we resign withing 12mths we have to repay our maternity leave!

I have wangled my return to be part time & evenings from Jan 2007.

If you get 6wks pay it would be from whenever you start maternity leave, this can differ also as some ppl can work up until birth & others for medical reasons or personal reasons finish earlier!!


I hope this has helped somewhat!!!

Tracey, thank you. This has clarified things for me.

So much to learn!!! :rolleyes:

Usually when the maternity leave is paid there are different rules to the regular 52 weeks unpaid leave that everyone is entitled to.

I'm currently on paid maternity leave and with my employer the leave can't start any earlier than 10 weeks before your EDD. If you want to go on leave earlier than this you can use your paid holiday leave or unpaid leave.

You'd probably be best to check with your personnel dept as to what the conditions are at your workplace.

At our work which pays 13wks maternity leave if your care provider says you need to finish at 15wks Gestation, then work will pay you from then...
But you can ONLY have up to 52wks of maternity leave paid or unpaid!!!

So definately ask your work...

Have a chat to your HR department again as usually if you don't go back to the job you will have to pay the maternity leave back.

Thanks everyone! Will let you know how I go.

As I understand it, the "up to 52wks upaid leave" is a legislated entitlement when you have worked at your employer for 12 months.

If employers offer paid maternity leave, its usually deducted from the unpaid period (so for me I get 12weeks paid leave, and 40 unpaid (but can take annual or LSL as well, again deducted).

For the 52 weeks period - and I'm only speaking for full time employess cos I don't know if its the same for casuals - if your job still exists they are required to hold it for you. If something happens and it doesnt, you can legally be made redundant whilst on maternity leave.

Some companies will require you to finish by a certain week gestation (at my previous employer, you had to take 6 weeks of your 12 weeks paid leave prior to your EDD so could not work past 34 weeks.) Some will not have any restrictions (whicj is what my current employer does, so with DS I finished at 38 weeks)

Can I just say, Woohoo for getting paid mat leave as a casual! That's great of your employer to offer that. As others have said, if it were me I'd be talking to the boss as my understanding of it was that except in special circumstances, employers aren't legally obligated to offer casual employees any mat leave at all - paid or unpaid.
This is just tops of your boss... I was fulltime for two years at my job and all I got was the leave, no pay :(

paid maternity leave - I wish! I get 52wks unpaid maternity leave. I'm also paid monthly (2wks arrears & 2wks advance) and am finishing before the end of the month. The 8days that I'm not working out of the month, I'm getting paid annual leave (+ leave loading) and after that I'm on my own for 2 wks. Maybe baby will come early. haha

Good luck with it all!