Maternity Rights at Work
Maternity rights at work
Who is entitled to take maternity leave?
Most women employees are entitled to take time off work to have a baby. This time off is called maternity leave. It is your right to take maternity leave no matter how long you have worked for your employer.
If you are in one of the following jobs, some of the information in this fact sheet may not apply to you. You will need to check your contract of employment to see what maternity rights you have at work. This applies to: 1 women in the police force (not civilian employees)
women in the armed forces
share fisherwomen.
How much maternity leave can you take?
Most women have the right to take up to 52 weeks ' maternity leave. This does not depend on how long you have worked for your employer.
The first 26 weeks of maternity leave are called Ordinary Maternity Leave (OML). During OML, you will still get all the same rights under your contract of employment as if you were still at work. The only exception is that you will not get your normal pay unless your contract allows for it.
You can also take an additional 26 weeks ' maternity leave called Additional Maternity Leave (AML). This makes a total of 52 weeks ' maternity leave. Again, this doesn 't depend on how long you have worked for your employer. If you 're taking AML, this must follow on directly after Ordinary Maternity Leave and there must be no gap between the two.
Directgov has an interactive calculator which helps you to calculate what maternity leave you are entitled to. Go to www.direct.gov.uk.
Your contract of employment may give you extra rights to maternity leave, but it can 't give you less than the law allows. If your contract says you have fewer rights than the law allows, you 'll still be entitled to take the maternity leave described above.
When maternity leave begins and ends
You can begin your maternity leave at any time from the 11th week before your baby is due. If you want, you can work
Who is entitled to take maternity leave?
Most women employees are entitled to take time off work to have a baby. This time off is called maternity leave. It is your right to take maternity leave no matter how long you have worked for your employer.
If you are in one of the following jobs, some of the information in this fact sheet may not apply to you. You will need to check your contract of employment to see what maternity rights you have at work. This applies to: 1 women in the police force (not civilian employees)
women in the armed forces
share fisherwomen.
How much maternity leave can you take?
Most women have the right to take up to 52 weeks ' maternity leave. This does not depend on how long you have worked for your employer.
The first 26 weeks of maternity leave are called Ordinary Maternity Leave (OML). During OML, you will still get all the same rights under your contract of employment as if you were still at work. The only exception is that you will not get your normal pay unless your contract allows for it.
You can also take an additional 26 weeks ' maternity leave called Additional Maternity Leave (AML). This makes a total of 52 weeks ' maternity leave. Again, this doesn 't depend on how long you have worked for your employer. If you 're taking AML, this must follow on directly after Ordinary Maternity Leave and there must be no gap between the two.
Directgov has an interactive calculator which helps you to calculate what maternity leave you are entitled to. Go to www.direct.gov.uk.
Your contract of employment may give you extra rights to maternity leave, but it can 't give you less than the law allows. If your contract says you have fewer rights than the law allows, you 'll still be entitled to take the maternity leave described above.
When maternity leave begins and ends
You can begin your maternity leave at any time from the 11th week before your baby is due. If you want, you can work