Maternity Leave Planner UK

Eligible employees can normally take up to 52 weeks of Statutory Maternity Leave. That is made up of 26 weeks Ordinary Maternity Leave followed by up to 26 weeks Additional Maternity Leave.

You do not have to take the full year. Many people plan a shorter period of leave, and compulsory maternity leave means you normally cannot return to work in the first 2 weeks after the birth, or the first 4 weeks if you work in a factory.

Maternity leave can normally start from 11 weeks before the expected week of childbirth. The expected week of childbirth is the Sunday-to-Saturday week containing your due date, so the earliest usual start is worked out from that week rather than from the due date alone.

Leave can also start automatically in some situations — for example if the baby arrives before the planned start date, or if you are off work with a pregnancy-related illness in the period close to the expected week of childbirth.

Statutory Maternity Leave and Statutory Maternity Pay are different things. Leave may last up to 52 weeks, while Statutory Maternity Pay — for those who are eligible — normally lasts up to 39 weeks.

Employer enhanced or contractual maternity pay can differ from the statutory scheme entirely, both in how much is paid and for how long. To estimate statutory amounts, use the UK Maternity Pay Calculator.

Your return-to-work date depends on the actual date your maternity leave starts and how long you take. This planner counts whole weeks from the effective leave start, so a 52-week plan runs for 364 days and your return date is the day after your leave ends.

Yes — employees can generally choose to return earlier than the full 52 weeks, subject to compulsory maternity leave straight after the birth. Notice rules normally apply, so agree any change with your employer in good time.

Employees normally need to tell their employer about the pregnancy, the expected due date and the intended maternity leave start date in advance.

• the normal notice point is at least 15 weeks before the baby is expected
• a maternity leave start date can normally be changed with appropriate notice
• an earlier return date normally requires advance notice to the employer

These are general reminders rather than legal deadlines — individual circumstances, contracts and employer processes differ. Check your employer's maternity policy and current GOV.UK guidance.

An employer will normally assume an employee is taking the full maternity leave period unless a different return is arranged. If you want to come back sooner — or later within your statutory entitlement — you normally need to give your employer notice of the change.

This page provides general information only and does not give personalised employment-law advice.