How much paid maternity leave am I entitled to?
Maternity leave (and pay) has increased. ‘You’re entitled to 52 weeks’ maternity leave,’ says Rachel Roe, an employment lawyer with the charity Working Families. ‘The first six weeks are paid at 90% of your gross weekly salary, the other 33 weeks are paid at £123.06 or 90% of your salary – whichever is less.’ The remaining 13 weeks are unpaid, but some employers offer contractual maternity pay – extra money to top up your statutory pay. What about my partner? If your other half has worked for his employer roughly since you became pregnant, he’s entitled to two weeks’ paternity leave at £123.06 per week. He needs to write to his employer 15 weeks before your due date, stating his intention to claim paternity leave and statutory paternity pay. What if I want to take longer? You can’t take more than 52 weeks’ maternity leave, but you may be able to extend it, for example by adding on holiday you’ve built up while on leave. Your employer may also agree to a career break (generally unpaid).
