Maternity Leave

Maternity leave is the time you can take off work around the birth of your baby. In the UK, eligible employees can take up to 52 weeks. The first 26 weeks are Ordinary Maternity Leave and the next 26 are Additional Maternity Leave. You don't have to take it all — but most parents do, and how you use it affects your pay.

Maternity pay is separate from maternity leave. You might receive Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP), Maternity Allowance (MA) if you don't qualify for SMP, or enhanced maternity pay if your employer offers it. Pay levels usually drop after the first six weeks, so understanding when each rate kicks in helps you plan around the months that will feel tighter.

There are also choices to make about how to combine maternity leave with annual leave, unpaid weeks, ending leave early, and Shared Parental Leave with your partner. The articles in this collection cover the rules, the practical decisions, and the things employers don't always make obvious.

If you'd rather model it all in one place — including pay drops, enhanced policies, KIT days, and your partner's leave — try the planner.