Do I have to return to work after maternity leave?

Question

I will have been paid statutory maternity pay for 6 months and will have had 6 months unpaid maternity leave, If I return to work will I have to reimburse company maternity pay given to me?

Answer 1

if you are in the united states you can be required to repay maternity pay if you fail to return to work after leave. if you don't live here, i have no idea.

Answer 2

No you don't need to pay anything back.  Your more than entitled to leave your job if you so wish and there is no penalties and nothing to pay back :)  I'm thinking of leaving my job too lol.........i checked it all out.

Answer 3

You can just quit.

As long as you quite at least a month before you're due to go back to work then you DO NOT have to pay back the money.

I looked into this before I went on maternity.  I will not be returning to work :]

Answer 4

That is a question for your company to answer. Some companies have a policy in place where if you do not return to work for a certain amount of time after maternity leave you can indeed be made to pay back the money from your paid maternity leave. I would find out the facts from the horse's mouth if I were in your shoes.

Answer 5

The important thing is to be there for your child.  If they have such a policy of repayment, ask if they will make an exception.  If you haven't had all of the paid leave yet, talk to them now so they know you are being honest.

I didn't go back after my leave.  There was a policy in the contract that I would have to pay back the health insurance premiums from the leave (over $5000).  I took a chance because I knew I had to be there for my child.  They ended up not making me pay them back.  

Answer 6

If it's just normal smp then no you don't have to pay it back, it's only if your work pays you anything extra that you would have to pay it back. I got normal smp and didn't go back and i didn't have to pay anything