Page 65 - PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL

mother to a maximum of two antenatal appointments and should advise their line
manager of any appointment as far in advance as possible, completing the time off
to attend ante natal appointments declaration form.
However, the company’s policy is that this time off
will be unpaid

PERIOD OF MATERNITY LEAVE

a. All pregnant employees (regardless of length of service) have the right
to take up to 26 weeks’ ordinary maternity leave and up to a further 26
weeks’ additional maternity leave and to resume work afterwards. You are
therefore entitled to a total period of 52 weeks’ maternity leave subject to
you following the notification requirements as set out below

b. You have the right to return to work at any time during either ordinary
maternity leave or additional maternity leave (except during the first two
weeks from the day of childbirth) subject to you following the notification
requirements as set out below

NOTIFYING THE COMPANY

a. In order to qualify for any maternity leave you must notify the company in
writing, no later than the end of the 15 th week before your expected week of
childbirth (EWC), of:
i. the fact that you are pregnant;
ii. the expected week of childbirth; and
iii. the date on which you intend to commence your maternity leave

b. The company will respond in writing, within 28 days of receiving your letter to
confirm when you are due back to work and if you qualify for SMP

c. The earliest date you can start your maternity leave is the beginning of the
11 th week before your EWC. If you fail to notify the company as outlined
above, you may lose your right to start your maternity leave on the date you
wish and your right to SMP

d. You can still change your mind about the date you wish to start your maternity
leave after you have given notification, but you must then give 28 days’
notice of the new date on which you want to start your maternity leave

RISK ASSESSMENT
a. When you are pregnant and have notified the company,
your line manager will asse your
specifi identi are to
baby’ health