Template letter to tell your employer you're pregnant | Acas

A template letter to tell your employer you're pregnant. Free to use.

Anyone with the legal status of employee is entitled to maternity leave.

Someone is not likely to be an employee if they're:

an agency worker
a casual worker
on a zero-hours contract

If you're entitled to statutory maternity leave, you must tell your employer you're pregnant. You need to tell them no later than the 15th week before your baby is due or as soon as possible if this is not reasonably practical.

If you're entitled to statutory maternity pay you must give your employer notice 28 days before you expect pay to start or as soon as possible if this is not reasonably practical.

You can copy and paste the template text into an email or document.

Find advice on maternity leave and pay

Template

[Today's date]

Dear [name of your employer / HR manager / line manager],

I am writing to tell you that I am pregnant.

My baby is due on [date].

I would like to start my maternity leave on [date].

Yours sincerely,

[Your name]

Download this template

If you need the template in a different format, email digital@acas.org.uk

Last reviewed

12 December 2025