Maternity leave - what you're entitled to and how to get it

Summary

You can go on maternity leave again if you get pregnant while you’re already on maternity leave. You don’t need to go back to work between your pregnancies. You’ll need to check whether you can get maternity pay a second time, but apart from that you have the same rights as during your first pregnancy. The rules on giving notice and starting your leave stay the same: * you’ll need to give notice to your employer 15 weeks before your due date * you can start your maternity leave from 11 weeks before your due date You have different rules for maternity leave. Check your contract or speak to your employer to see what rights you have. You have different rules for maternity leave. Check your contract or speak to your employer to see what rights you have. At least 15 weeks before the week when your baby’s due, tell your employer: * when you want your maternity leave to start and end (you can change these dates later) It’s best to tell your employer in writing so you have a record. Your employer should confirm the end date of your maternity leave. If they don’t, it’s worth asking them for it to make sure you both have the same date in mind. Your employer can ask to see a medical.

Key information

• you’ll need to give notice to your employer 15 weeks before your due date
• you can start your maternity leave from 11 weeks before your due date
• that you want to take maternity leave
• when you want your maternity leave to start and end (you can change these dates later)
• started your job less than 15 weeks before your due date
• didn’t know you were pregnant
• you’re off work with an illness related to your pregnancy, and this happens in the 4 weeks before the week of your due date
• whether you’ll be able to return to your job after the extra time
• whether the extra time will count as a break in your employment
• whether you’ll be paid anything for the extra time
• to start your leave sooner, tell your employer at least 4 weeks before your new start date.
• to start your leave later, tell your employer at least 4 weeks before your old start date

Practical guidance

• Source: Maternity leave - what you're entitled to and how to get it

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