Maternity Leave and Pay
Leave
Employees have the right to take Statutory Maternity Leave, which is 52 weeks.
You don’t have to take all 52 weeks. However, you must take two weeks’ leave after your baby is born, or four weeks if you’re employed by a factory.
All your employee rights are protected while you’re on maternity leave.
Pay
Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is paid for up to 39 weeks, in the same way as your wages. You receive 90% of your average weekly earnings before tax for the first six weeks. For the next 33 weeks, you receive either £172.48 or 90% of your average weekly earnings – whichever is lower.
You qualify for SMP if you:
SMP starts at the same time as your maternity leave.
Employees have the right to take Statutory Maternity Leave, which is 52 weeks.
- The first 26 weeks is known as Ordinary Maternity Leave.
- The last 26 weeks is known as Additional Maternity Leave.
You don’t have to take all 52 weeks. However, you must take two weeks’ leave after your baby is born, or four weeks if you’re employed by a factory.
All your employee rights are protected while you’re on maternity leave.
Pay
Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is paid for up to 39 weeks, in the same way as your wages. You receive 90% of your average weekly earnings before tax for the first six weeks. For the next 33 weeks, you receive either £172.48 or 90% of your average weekly earnings – whichever is lower.
You qualify for SMP if you:
- Earn at least £123 a week (on average).
- Give your employer at least 28 days’ notice.
- Give your employer proof you’re pregnant (a doctor or midwife’s letter or your MATB1 certificate).
- Have worked for your employer continuously for at least 26 weeks continuing into the qualifying week, which is the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth.
SMP starts at the same time as your maternity leave.
This information has been developed by the Local Employability Partnership.