Best Accountants in Basildon

Maternity leave in the United Kingdom provides important rights and benefits for eligible employees who are expecting a baby. Here's what you need to know about maternity leave in the UK: Eligibility: To be eligible for maternity leave in the UK, you must be an employee and have worked for the same employer continuously for at least 26 weeks by the end of the 15th week before your expected due date. You also need to provide the correct notice to your employer. Length of Leave: Eligible employees are entitled to up to 52 weeks of maternity leave. It is divided into two parts: a. Ordinary Maternity Leave: The first 26 weeks of leave are known as ordinary maternity leave (OML). It is available to all employees, regardless of how long they have been employed. b. Additional Maternity Leave: The following 26 weeks are called additional maternity leave (AML). To be eligible for AML, you need to have worked for the same employer for at least 26 weeks by the end of the 15th week before your expected due date. Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP): During your maternity leave, you may be eligible to receive Statutory Maternity Pay if you meet certain criteria. SMP is paid for up to 39 weeks. For the first six weeks, you will receive 90% of your average weekly earnings before tax. For the remaining 33 weeks, you'll receive either £151.97 per week or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is lower). Continue reading ...