Any UK mums taken maternity leave at work? Advice please

Question

I’ve recently told my bosses about my pregnancy ( only 10 weeks so yes I told them early as I have been suffering with sickness and had a few doctors appointments already so wanted them to be aware ) 
However, since telling them there attitude to me has very much changed and makes me feel down at work and a bit uncomfortable. I have been with my employers for over 3 years and they have always been kind till now. 
They pulled me for a chat and said they feel I haven’t been working as hard as I could be but said this is understandable due to my ‘ issues ‘
By issues they are referring to my pregnancy which upset me. 
Any way.. my question is where do I stand in terms of maternity leave. If I make it clear to them I’m not returning after the leave, are they still entitled to pay me maternity pay. 
I feel like they’re trying to push me out to avoid paying it. 
Any advice appreciated

Answer

Go on the maternity leave when it's time, and a month before you are due to return, send in a letter of resignation. Don't tell them before hand that you're not returning after the period is over. Keep it as though you are intending to come back after the maternity leave.

Answer

https://www.gov.uk/employers-maternity-pay-leave 
Everything you need to know is here! They can’t treat you any differently and you are entitled to all antenatal appointments etc. off work and fully paid. They also cannot pressure you for any decisions on whether/when you intend to come back I think it’s until 4weeks prior to your return. If you have been there for 3 years you are more than entitled to statutory maternity pay as a minimum!

Answer

So depending on your companies policy most maternity pay comes from the government, therefore your company pay it to you and then claim it back from the government- that's the statutory maternity pay....but if your company pay more than statutory then yes that comes out of their accounts
So heres where you need to be careful, they cannot sack you for being pregnant nor can they treat you any differently, but they can find other reasons to sack you like not doing your job role properly, which is what they sound like they are trying to do, you need to do your job to the best of your ability and not give them any reason to sack you
Also any time you take off sick due to the pregnancy cannot be counted with normal sick leave, they have to keep them separately- but again if you take too much time off they can sack you for that under the reasons of not being able to do your job...
In regards to the maternity leave- dont tell them you're leaving after, you can take maternity leave from 29 weeks pregnant and you can take 9 months statutory and then another 3 months unpaid so you can have a whole year off, during that time they still have to give you holiday, which you can either take before or after maternity leave or they can pay you for it, that's up to them
What ever your notice period is, tell them you arent returning to work at the start of your notice period e.g. if you due to go back to work in May but you have a months notice period then tell them in April you wont be returning, that way you dont have to work your notice period

Answer

They’re legally not allowed to treat you differently or fire you because you’re pregnant. My company allowed me to go on maternity leave 11 weeks before my due date. They have to pay you maternity pay unless you leave the company before. I won’t be returning to work after my maternity leave but I haven’t told the company I’m going to wait until a month before. I’d definitely speak to citizens advice

Answer

Make sure you keep a record of any behaviour that you feel is discrimination because of your pregnancy. If it continues I would submit a formal grievance. They should have a grievance procedure. They should also be carrying out a risk assessment and if there are aspects of your role you are now finding difficult because of pregnancy they should be making reasonable adjustments. You are entitled to your maternity leave so do not tell them that you want to leave as your notice period will apply as normal.

Any UK mums taken maternity leave at work? Advice please

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