Maternity leave and pay

Employees may take up to 52 weeks’ leave. This is a ‘day one’ right and there is no qualifying period. 

The level of pay depends on the length of service:

  • employees with 26 weeks’ service (but less than 1 years’ service) at the 15th week before the Expected Week of Childbirth (EWC) are entitled to Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) for 39 weeks.
  • employees with more than one year’s continuous service at the expected week of childbirth who intend to return to work are entitled to Occupational Maternity Pay (OMP), which is an enhanced provision inclusive of the statutory provision.
  • employees with less than 26 weeks’ service at the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth may be entitled to Maternity Allowance (MA). 
Arrow symbol
Contact us
Human Resources Employee Relations
Telephone: 01206 873353