Are you pregnant, about to go on maternity leave, and wondering what else you need to sort out before you do so? You may be looking forward to those quiet few weeks before baby arrives, or may be planning to work almost up until your due date. Relax in the knowledge that we’ve got you covered in our essential checklist – and avoid any last-minute surprises.
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What Do I Need To Sort At Work Before I Go On Maternity Leave?
1. Make Sure You Give Your Employer The Correct Notice For Maternity Leave And Pay
You’ll likely have already done this, but you need to inform your employer you’re intending to take Statutory Maternity Leave at least 15 weeks before your due date. To clam Statutory Maternity Pay, you need to give your employer at least 28 days notice in writing of when you would like this to start. You’ll need to show either your MATB1 certificate or letter from your midwife/doctor so your employer can pay you SMP.
2. Check Handover Arrangements – Maternity Leave Checklist
Is someone coming in as maternity cover while you’re off? If so, arrange a handover meeting for at least a couple of hours or a morning or afternoon with them if you can. Try and do this as soon as possible (you may have a slight overlap, or they may come in specifically for a handover meeting) so they can shadow you and you can be around long enough to answer their questions. If you’re passing part of your job to an existing colleague (or two), a handover meeting will also help you pass over the reigns, and help set your mind at rest that your colleagues know what to expect when you’re not there. A smooth maternity cover and transition equals a smoother return to work.
3. Talk To Your Boss About Keeping In Touch Days
While it may feel a little early to think about your return to work, it’s worth checking with your employer if they’re willing to offer Keeping In Touch days as and when you feel ready to come in during your maternity leave. Usually employers can offer up to ten paid KIT days, which can be really beneficial to you financially (particularly if you’re in the unpaid stage of maternity leave), as well as helping you feel more confident about returning. You usually won’t need to firm up any dates at this stage, but it’s useful to know the process of who to contact and when later on.
4. Consider Extending (Or Shortening) Your Maternity Leave
If you have any holiday allowance, consider tagging this onto either the start or end of your maternity leave. This can allow you to be paid, either before you have your baby or when your maternity leave has come to an end. There’s also some unpaid leave (called Unpaid Parental Leave) you could consider taking. You’re allowed four weeks per year per child (up to a total of 18 weeks up to their 18th birthday) so you could realistically add this onto the end of your maternity leave if your employer agrees to the timing.There’s no rush to decide this before you go on maternity leave, but it may be worth mentioning it to your boss if it’s something you’re considering.
Equally, you may know already that you intend to return to work once your Statutory Maternity Pay comes to an end (usually at 30 weeks) or sooner. Or you may be thinking of taking Shared Parental Leave with your partner and want to discuss with your employer how this could pan out. Again, it’s not a decision you have to make right now as you only have to give 8 weeks’ written notice, but you may want to check your eligibility here as part of your long-term planning.
5. Consider Your Return To Work – Maternity Leave Checklist
There are some mums who know from the offset that they are planning to stay home and raise their child for longer than maternity leave. In this way, they might choose to hand in their notice before they even go on maternity leave. Financially, this can make it easier to budget as they will only be claiming the statutory part of their maternity pay and there’s nothing to pay back to their employer if they quit.
Other mums may think about handing in their notice but will wait until they’re into the depths of maternity leave before deciding. As long as you give the appropriate notice before you would be due to return – whether this is one month, two months, a term or different. Just bear in mind that you may need to pay back a proportion of your maternity pay (if you’ve received enhanced maternity pay) to your employer. You’d need to return to work for a minimum of however long it states in your contract to keep all your pay (but remember you may be able to take some of this time as holiday).
What Do I Need To Sort At Home Before I Go On Maternity Leave?
1. Make Sure You Have A Maternity Exemption Certificate
You probably sorted this one out ages ago, but if not, a MATEX certificate exempts you from paying any NHS dental or prescription charges. It’s valid for during pregnancy and up until your child’s first birthday. If you live in Scotland, make sure you claim your free baby box.
2. Review Finances – Maternity Leave Checklist
Now is a good time to sit down with your partner and check through what outgoings and incomings you will jointly have over the planned period of your maternity leave. Even a very simple spreadsheet will help you with budgeting – once less thing to worry about when you’re caught up with feeding, sleeping and caring for your newborn. Check here for our guide on how to save money on maternity leave. This will also help you if you have any doubts about how long to go on maternity leave, if you are sharing maternity leave at all, and at what stage you are planning to return to work – if at all.
3. Attend NCT And/Or NHS Classes – Maternity Leave Checklist
You’ll likely attend childbirth classes a month or a couple of months before your baby is due, so you’ll probably not be on maternity leave yet. While it might feel a lot to juggle, attending free NHS antenatal classes on childbirth can help make you and your partner feel that little bit more confident on what to expect. Look out for NCT (National Childbirth Trust) classes in your local area too. While you may/will have to pay for these classes, they are longer sessions, so you can really get to grips with the ins and outs of childbirth and how to care for your newborn. Often run at weekends, most parents who attend them say they are invaluable in forming new support networks and getting to know other parents in your area in a similar life stage. Friendships can last years, well beyond the baby years.
Did you know both you and your partner could be off at the same time looking after your new baby? Shared Parental Leave is different from the 2 weeks paid leave your partner can take. It’s basically splitting your maternity leave with your partner so you can both take a proportion of the 50 weeks. You can then choose to tag-team, where your partner takes over and you go back to work. Or you can even overlap your time – but remember, this will mean you would be looking for childcare sooner, if you’re both planning to return to work.
5. Check Tax-Free Childcare
You may be starting to research childcare and Tax-Free Childcare before your child is even born. If you need any information from your employer, it’s worth making a quick note before you go on maternity leave. That way you won’t need to think about firing off emails to HR while you’re in the midst of maternity leave with your new baby.
6. Ask Around For Baby Equipment – Maternity Leave Checklist
If you know any recent new mums, it’s worth asking them for baby equipment they might still have and you might need. It’s amazing how many pram systems and other bits and bobs people have hidden away at home. This can definitely save you time later on in your maternity leave.
7. Buy Nappies, Wipes, Changing Mat And Basic Baby Outfits
Invest in some newborn nappies, nappy sacks and waterwipes so you have a stash ready for your baby’s arrival. Newborns go through 6-8 nappies per day so you’ll probably need more than you think! Also get a changing mat, some baby sleepsuits, vests and a cellular blanket or two. Of course you can do this too at the start of your maternity leave, but if you’re working close to your due date, you’ll want to avoid any last-minute rushes to the shops.
8. Start Packing Your Hospital Bag – Maternity Leave Checklist
Again, you might feel it’s a bit early to pack your hospital bag, but countless parents will tell you having your hospital bag all ready and packed can be a weight off your mind. Chances are you’ll unpack it and add to it multiple times, so why not set an evening aside to start off the process? You’ll want your partner involved too so they can find those last-minute sweets stashed in a pocket and stack of nappies in a hurry. As a minimum you will need spare clothes for you, nightwear, a magazine, snacks, maternity pads, a phone charger. For baby you will need a hat, vests, sleepsuits, a cellular blankets, nappies and wipes. Check here for our hospital bag checklist.
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How To Save Money On Maternity Leave
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