18. MATERNITY LEAVE

ANTE-NATAL CARE

1. You will be allowed to have paid time off work to attend the Ante- Natal Clinic. After the initial appointment you may be asked to produce your appointment card when requesting time off.

MATERNITY LEAVE AND PAY

If you are a permanent employee of the University and have completed one year's continuous service then you are entitled to Maternity Leave under the University Scheme.

Staff on fixed term or temporary contracts are not eligible for paid maternity leave in line with the Scheme and should contact Personnel to clarify their situation.

The Scheme provides a flexible leave period of between 26 and 40 weeks. It is up to you to decide how much maternity leave you need, but the earliest you can begin is eleven weeks before the birth and the latest you can return to work is 29 weeks from the week of the birth.

You will be paid during your Maternity Leave for fourteen weeks at full pay - inclusive of Statutory Maternity Pay - and twelve weeks at half pay. The remainder of your leave will be unpaid.

If you do not have one year's continuous service with the University, but have satisfactorily completed your six months' probationary service you will be allowed up to 26 weeks unpaid leave. If you wish to return to work then your job will be kept open for you.

RETURN TO WORK

If you are entitled to maternity leave then you are entitled to return to the job in which you are employed under your contract of employment, on the same terms and conditions as those which would be applicable to you if you had not been absent.

QUALIFYING CONDITIONS

To qualify for maternity leave you must fulfil certain legal conditions:-

Before the birth of your child -

Once notified of your pregnancy, Personnel will send you a form on which you must state the following information:-

that you intend to be absent from work due to pregnancy;

	the date of the beginning of your absence;

	whether you intend to return to work following your absence.

The form must be returned to Personnel at least fourteen weeks before the expected week of confinement.

In addition, you must send to Personnel a certificate from your G.P. or midwife (Form MAT B1), at the earliest possible date, stating the Expected Week of Confinement (the week in which your baby is due).

Following the birth:-

If you stated that you intend to return to work Personnel will write to you, no sooner than seven weeks after the birth of your child, to ask if this is still your intention. You must reply to this letter within 14 days or your right to return will be lost.

You must notify Personnel in writing of your intended date of return at least three weeks in advance. The date of return must fall within the 29 week period beginning with the actual week of confinement.

You may postpone your date of return (or extend the 29 week period where no date has been notified) by up to four weeks by sending Personnel a medical certificate stating that you will be incapable of work on the grounds of ill health.

The University may also postpone your return to work for up to four weeks. You will be informed in writing of the postponement and the reasons for it before the notified date of return.

If you stated that you intend to return to work following your maternity leave then you must return to work for at least three months otherwise you will be asked to refund the 12 weeks half pay.

In the unfortunate event of a stillbirth after the eleventh week before the Expected Week of Confinement, you will be entitled to receive the same Maternity Pay you would have in the event of a live birth.

You will be allowed to remain on leave for the duration of your paid Maternity Leave. The same would apply in the case of the death of a child during maternity leave.

SUPERANNUATION

For the first thirty days of your leave, superannuation contributions will continue to be deducted from your pay as normal. Thereafter contribution is optional.

You will be asked prior to your maternity absence whether you want to continue contributions. If you do, they will be deducted from your maternity pay during maternity leave. If you decide not to pay contributions for the whole of your leave, only the first thirty days will count towards superannuable service.

HOLIDAY ENTITLEMENT

Your entitlement to annual leave continues to accrue throughout your paid maternity leave. However, entitlement will not accrue throughout any additional unpaid maternity leave.

You will be asked before you start your maternity leave whether you wish to use any outstanding holiday before your leave starts. You may choose to keep your entitlement and take it when you return provided you return during the same holiday year.

If you do not return in the same holiday year, your entitlement to carry over holiday will be subject to the normal rules governing carry over of holiday.

WHEN YOU DISCOVER YOU ARE PREGNANT

You should make an appointment witha member of staff of the Personnel Adminitration Section (ext. 2049). The purpose of this appointment will be to:-

Answer any questions you may have regarding the Maternity Leave Scheme.

Discuss the options open to you under the Scheme.

Make you aware of your legal obligations to the University and your statutory rights before and during maternity leave.

Inform you of any additional pay or benefits from the State which you may be entitled to.