Staff Handbook

9. Maternity Members of staff who are pregnant have a number of entitlements which are outlined below. Ante-natal Care You are entitled to paid time off work to attend ante-natal appointments made on the advice of a registered medical practitioner, registered midwife or registered health visitor. You should book this time off in advance with your line manager. When requesting time off you may be required to show a certificate confirming that you are pregnant (this can be provided by a registered medical practitioner, a registered midwife or a registered health visitor) and an appointment card or some other document showing that an appointment has been made. Maternity Leave You are entitled to up to 52 weeks’ maternity leave. In order to take maternity leave you must notify your line manager of: This notification should be given in writing and by no later than the fifteenth week before the expected week of childbirth. You should also provide your line manager with a copy of the MATB1 form that you will have been given by your healthcare provider. Your maternity leave can start no earlier than the beginning of the 11th week before the expected week of childbirth. The expected date of birth is given on the MATB1 form. If you wish to change the date for starting your maternity leave after this initial notification, you may do so. You should notify your line manager of the new start date by either 28 days before the date you originally intended to start your leave or 28 days before the new date, whichever is earlier. The Company will write to you to advise you of your scheduled date of return to work, which will be 52 weeks after the start of your maternity leave. If you wish to return to work sooner you may do so by giving 8 weeks’ written notice of your new return date. N.B. You are not permitted to return to work during the two weeks after your baby is born. • The fact that you are pregnant • The expected week of childbirth • The date when you intend to start taking leave

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