At the end of the 18 weeks you are entitled to return to exactly the same job as before you left. Maternity leave can be taken any time from 11 weeks before the date your baby is due. Many women prefer to work as long as possible so they have more time at home once the baby is born. It is up to you to decide when you want to start your leave and you can work up to the birth if you choose. But, if you are away from work with a pregnancy related illness in the last six weeks of your pregnancy, your employer can start your leave immediately.
Some companies offer more generous maternity conditions than the statutory minimum.
You should talk to your human resources department, or union representative, who will be able to give you up to date information on the schemes in operation in your organisation as well as the rights and benefits that are available to you. Additional maternity leave If you have been continuously employed by the same employer for one year and 11 weeks by the time your baby is due, you are entitled to additional maternity leave of 29 weeks from the start of the week your baby is actually born. At the end of additional maternity leave, you are entitled to return to the same job unless your employer can show that it is not reasonably practicable for you to return to your old job in which case they must offer you a suitable alternative job on similar terms and conditions. You will need to give them a copy of the form Mat B1, which you will get from your GP or midwife when you are about 26 weeks pregnant. If you decide that you don't want to return to work, you should resign and give your employer the notice required by your contract.