Maternity leave

[Clo2513]

If there’s any care assistants on here or health assistants, could you please tell me how many weeks you worked until your due date please? My manager is trying to tell me that I can work up until my due date but I’m telling her I know my body won’t allow that as I’m already struggling. I’ve got my maternity to start on 14th October but she’s trying to force me to stay on and work longer... just wondering anyone else’s dates or information!

[Hidden]

I don’t work in that sector but she has absolutely no right to tell you how long you can work up until. I work at a desk and left 2 weeks before due date. I definitely would of left earlier if I had a more physical job. Have a look on the gov website as it tells you how early you can leave but obviously would affect how long you would have off when the baby is here xx

[Hidden]

I would personally leave it as late as possible as obviously you would lose 11 weeks with baby but If that’s what you want she definitely can’t argue. Is there anyone higher you can go to? If not CAB can always help I think xx

[Clo2513 in reply to Hidden]

I’m going to try and talk to head office but my manager is funny about giving out their number in case she gets in trouble, but I’m going to try and talk to her today about it xx

[Hidden in reply to Clo2513]

Definitely. Hope you get it sorted. It can’t be nice having a boss like that. I would end up leaving early just to be awkward 😂😂 xx

[Cheekymonkey85]

It's up to you when you take leave, as long is it's after 11weeks before your due date, your boss can't dictate. My sister works in the care sector & worked until a few weeks before her due date so it's possible. Maybe you could negotiate lighter duties if she's wanting you to work longer, especially if you are finding it hard.

citizensadvice.org.uk/work/...

This link might be helpful. There's a bit at the bottom to click on if your boss doesn't agree with when to take your leave, the steps you should take xx

[Annh17]

Im a healthcare assistant, worked upto 37 weeks. But looking back I could easily of finished around 34 weeks as it was all becoming a struggle and I was put on very light duty’s. But my workplace were amazing, I can’t fault them.

Have you done risk assessment?

You can start your maternity leave when you are ready, don’t be pushed by anyone, you are growing a little baby and it’s tiring. Do you have annual leave too use? x

[Clo2513 in reply to Annh17]

I’ve had 2 risk assessments and I told my manager I was pregnant at about 12 weeks and I’m now 22 weeks and was told I would have one every month but that hasn’t happened even after me asking them for one! It’s very tiring, I’m a domiciliary career so I’m always having to travel and be getting in and out of the car too so it’s all getting a lot harder aha. I have 3 weeks holiday that I’m using before my maternity starts, which they’ve also asked me to do a couple of days work during which is frustrating! x

[Annh17 in reply to Clo2513]

You have too put your foot down you are carrying a baby and have too put yourself and baby before anything. I was in a home, so was a lot of other girls around to help and manager could see I was struggling.

I did domiciliary work and there’s no way I would be doing that on pregnancy especially on your own.

Is there anyone who you can go to that is above your manager? x

[BabyChunk]

I finished at 30 weeks but dropped my shifts down at around 27/28 weeks as was too much work. Don’t push yourself too hard you know yourself when it’s time 😊

[Hidden]

29 weeks is early to leave I’d try to leave as late as possible so you have more time off with baby. My friend who work in the nhs was signed on the sick for a while before starting her maternity with pregnancy issues with diabetes and back pains. So had more time off earlier.

[XxjustmexX]

I work in a care home and I dropped my hours down to two nights a week which is 25 hours . I took my maternity 35 weeks I did go at 33 thou with a doctor note as physically couldn’t do it anymore. Do what’s right for you and the baby 🙂 xx

[Major2116]

I'm a carer on an elderly ward. I gave my maternity to start 2 weeks before my due date.

I had SPD though and the doctors put me on light duties only at 26 weeks. They wanted to sign me off work but I said no.

Eventually I spoke to my manager and we both agreed I'd finish 4 weeks early as my body couldn't cope.

She definitely has no right to tell you when you take leave! You tell her. Give it her in writing that you wanna start to take your mat leave on a certain date. I'd also ask for a copy of the maternity policy xx