How much notice did you give?

[macaroon]

Hi, just wondering how much notice people gave to their boss for when they would start maternity leave. My manager first sat me down at the beginning of January at which time I said I don't really know. He said just a rough guess, he won't hold me to it, and I guessed I'd start my maternity leave around March. He then advised another manager that I had 9 weeks to go :confused: I hadn't thought I'd committed to anything. My manager had asked me to email him the date the next day. I didn't because I don't want to commit to anything in case I'm still feeling good and can work longer. At the moment I feel fine so it's hard to say. How people feel towards the end seems to vary for everyone. Now, today he asked me again. I'm feeling pressured to commit to a date. It seems way too early to know.

[WorkingClassMum]

I worked outside of home until the week before with both kids.

I was working at home whilst in labour with DS, and was working the night before with DD

If you can afford it, take the last 4 weeks off before bubs - you feel better

[KatiesMum]

I set my date for leaving when I found out I was pregnant .... just made it 3 + 1/2 weeks before I was due.

But my work were fairly flexible about it, they just wanted a date for planning etc. In the end I did technically finish on this date, but I did go in a few days here and there for the next 2 weeks ... just as a casual.

If you are not feeling good, you can always bring it forward later, so I would make it 2 - 3 weeks before you are due as a general guide. Especially if they are going to be a little flexible.....

[HeidiLee]

At my work we have to give 12 weeks written notice. Along with the written notice I had to provide a letter from my OB stating my due date.

[tales]

10 weeks here (written notice required), although the actual leave form doesn't need to be in until 4 weeks beforehand.

If you aren't required under your employment contract to provide him with notice yet, your boss can't force you to commit if you don't know. Tell him you haven't made a decision yet, but do give him a date by which you will know. Make sure that date is within whatever requirements your employment conditions stipulate.

[bingo]

Does your Employer have a maternity leave policy? This policy should outline what you are required to do and what your rights are. At my place of employment we have to give 10 weeks notice but I can alter that date twice as long as I have a Dr's letter stating I am fit to continue working.
I wouldn't put anything in writing until you've cited your policy personally.

[macaroon]

Thanks for the responses.

:detective: I looked at the maternity leave policy and it states that a leave form must be completed 10 weeks before the due date. Unfortunately, no one here seems aware of the policy :(

I asked a woman in another department who is 30 wks pg, and no one has asked her so she hasn't put in for her maternity leave.

I asked a couple of managers in other departments who have had pg employees go on maternity leave and they seemed much more laid back about it saying stuff like "there's no minimum, but two weeks notice would be nice".

Even my own manager, I'd asked him when I first got pg and he said to me "well, the other guys just give me a call when their wives go into labour and that's when their leave starts so you can just do the same". :laughing: Yeah right! I told him that I'd probably want to take leave a little earlier than that and he quickly back peddled. I'm the only female in my dept so I don't think he knows how to handle me.

:fingerscrossed: he doesn't ask me again. Obviously, if I knew, I'd let him know.

[Lipsmacker01]

I would definately start setting a date.

I was in a really difficult situation with my previous maternity leave. I had a pushy boss and I had lots of annual leave owing. I know I had a choice but I really feel like he pushed me into taking my maternity leave early, at 5 months and I really regretted it. I was absoloutely bored out of my brains and I really think i put more weight on being around home. It really made time go a lot slower too.

See if you can set yourself a more accurate date and whatever you do make sure its on paper.

Its so unprofessional when you speak to your superiors and they spread things around that arent necessarily true, especially private things.