There are some things you might need to consider when you go back to work after maternity leave.
The right to return to work
Your right to return to the same job as before depends on how much maternity leave you've taken.
If you've taken 26 weeks or less
The first 26 weeks of maternity leave are called 'ordinary maternity leave' under the law.
You have the right to return to the same job after ordinary maternity leave.
If you've taken more than 26 weeks
More than 26 weeks' maternity leave is called 'additional maternity leave' under the law.
If you use additional maternity leave, you still have the right to return to your job on the same terms as before you left. But if it's not possible because there have been significant changes to the organisation, you could be offered a similar job.
In this case, the job cannot be on worse terms than before. For example, the following must be the same:
- pay
- benefits
- holiday entitlement
- seniority
- where the job is
Changing the date you want to return
You must tell your employer at least 8 weeks before you're due to return to work if you want to:
- stay on maternity leave longer than planned
- return to work sooner than planned
Taking holiday
You still accrue (build up) your holiday entitlement during maternity leave.
If you did not plan your holiday before going on maternity leave, you should talk with your employer before you're due to return to work to arrange when you will take your holiday.
Find out more about holiday and maternity leave
Health and safety when you return to work
Your employer has to have a workplace health and safety assessment for employees of childbearing age, including new mothers.
Find out more on health and safety for new mothers from the Health and Safety Executive
Breastfeeding
If you're breastfeeding, you may need to:
- rest
- express milk
- store expressed milk
By law, your employer must provide somewhere suitable for you to rest.
They're not legally required to provide somewhere for you to express or store milk. However, it's a good idea for them to provide facilities, such as a private room and a fridge to store the milk.
Read NHS advice on breastfeeding and going back to work
If you want to change your hours or job
If you want to change your hours or duties when you return from maternity leave, you might be able to make a flexible working request.
Find out how to make a flexible working request
Redundancy
It's against the law for your employer to make you redundant just because you've been on maternity leave or have requested flexible working to care for your child.
If you decide to leave your job
If you decide you want to leave your job during or after maternity leave, you follow the usual process for resigning from a job, including the same notice period.
It's a good idea to consider any handover that might be needed and you could use your keeping in touch (KIT) days for this.
If your employer offers enhanced maternity pay, you might have to repay some or all of the enhanced amount (anything more than statutory maternity pay) if you:
- do not to return to work
- leave shortly after maternity leave
This should be clearly set out in your contract's written statement.