Return to work

A returning to work mother is not allowed to return to work during the first two weeks from the date of childbirth. This is defined as a period of Compulsory Maternity Leave. A member of staff who intends to return to work at the end of full maternity leave (i.e. after 52 weeks), does not have to give any further notification of her return to work.

If she intends to return to work before the end of her maternity leave she must provide 8 weeks notice, in writing, of her intended date of return to her manager and to Human Resources.

A member of staff who is only taking the Ordinary Maternity Leave is entitled to return to a similar job she was in before she went on leave, on terms and conditions that are no less favourable than those that would have applied had she not been absent.

A member of staff who has stated her intention to return to work after Additional Maternity Leave will normally be re-employed in her previous post, but if there are exceptional reasons why this is not possible she will be employed on similar work and on terms and conditions no less favourable than if she had not been absent.

A member of staff who has been working full-time but who indicates a wish to return to work on a part-time basis following maternity leave will receive sympathetic consideration of her request, and will be accommodated wherever possible. Similarly, requests for flexible working or to job-share will be carefully considered and accommodated wherever possible.

A member of staff who fails to return to work after maternity leave will be treated as being on unauthorised absence, and the College will be entitled to take appropriate disciplinary action, which may include dismissal. The College will, in such circumstances, reclaim any payment made in excess of SMP.

If a member of staff leaves within 12 weeks of her return to work after maternity leave the College has the right to recover any payment made in excess of SMP. This shall not apply to staff on fixed term contracts whose date of contract expiry means that they cannot meet the requirement to return for 12 weeks.