Maternity Leave

🔏 Statutory Qualification

You qualify for Statutory Maternity Leave if...

you’re an employee not a ‘worker’
you give your employer the correct notice
It does not matter how long you’ve been with your employer, how many hours you work or how much you get paid
You cannot get Statutory Maternity Leave if you have a child through surrogacy - you could get Statutory Adoption Leave and Pay instead

To qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay you must...

earn on average at least £120 a week
give the correct notice
give proof you’re pregnant
have worked for your employer continuously for at least 26 weeks continuing into the ‘qualifying week’ - the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth
If you usually earn an average of £120 or more a week, and you only earned less in some weeks because you were paid but not working (‘on furlough’) under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, you may still be eligible
You cannot get SMP if you go into police custody during your maternity pay period. It will not restart when you’re discharged

At least 15 weeks before the baby is expected, you must tell us the due date and when you want to start your leave
Automata will confirm your leave and end date in writing within 28 days
You are entitled to change your planned return to work date, however you must give 8 weeks’ notice if you do so

You are entitled to 10 KIT days during your period of leave
These are optional paid days which can be used by you to come into work on agreed days, such as a training session or a team meeting
You are under no obligation to agree to any KIT days