What are the statutory maternity leave and pay entitlements and responsibilities?
All pregnant employees are entitled to paid time off for antenatal care All pregnant employees are entitled to 52 weeks’ maternity leave (26 weeks’ Ordinary Maternity Leave and 26 weeks’ Additional Maternity Leave) Pregnant employees who meet qualifying conditions based on their length of service and average earnings are entitled to up to 39 weeks’ Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP), which is paid by their employers and mostly or completely refunded by the Government Women who are not entitled to SMP but meet qualifying conditions based on their recent employment and earnings may claim up to 39 weeks’ Maternity Allowance, paid direct by Jobcentre Plus Employers may make reasonable contact with a woman on maternity leave for a number of reasons, such as to discuss arrangements for her return to work Employees may undertake up to ten ‘Keeping in Touch Days’ during their maternity leave – allowing work under their contract of employment – by agreement with the employer Employees who wish to re
