Maternity leave - University of Oxford

There is a section on the Maternity Leave Plan for the employee to note her preferences inthis respect.Payment for keeping in touch (KIT) daysAs KIT days allow work to be carried out under the employee's contract of employment, theemployee is entitled to be paid for that work. The rate of pay is a matter for agreement withthe department, but may be agreed on a case-by-case basis.It is suggested that if a woman attends for work, she is paid the equivalent of her normalhourly rate for the hours she works on the day in question. Therefore during the period thatshe is being paid at the rate of full pay, no further payment would be due.It is suggested that if a woman works a KIT day in a week in which she is receiving SMPonly, then her pay should be made up to the equivalent of full pay for the hours worked overand above the amount received under SMP rules. She will continue to be paid her SMP forthe week in which the work is done.There is a maximum limit of 10 KIT days allowed under the new regulations and once awoman has used up her 10 KIT days and she does any further work, she will lose a week'sSMP for the week in the Maternity Pay Period in which she has done that work.The hours to be worked and the pay for those hours must be agreed in advance between thedepartment and the employee.Any questions from departments about payment during KIT days should be directed to theirSector Personnel Officer.Notification of change of return to work dates while on maternity leaveUnless otherwise notified, the date on which an employee returns to work will normally bethe first working day 52 weeks after her maternity leave began. This is because allemployees are entitled to 26 weeks' OML and 26 weeks' AML.(i) Return to work before the end of the maternity leave periodIf the employee wishes to return to work before the end of her full maternity leave period(this will normally be the end date that the department confirmed to her before she went onleave), she must give her department eight weeks' notice of her return to work. This noticerequirement applies during the full period of leave. The notice period is the minimum that thedepartment is entitled to expect, but the department may, at its discretion, accept less notice.If the employee tries to return to work without having given the appropriate eight weeks'notice, the department may postpone her return until the end of the eight weeks' noticeperiod. However, the department may not postpone her return to a date later than the end ofher maternity leave period.(ii) Return to work later than previously notifiedAn employee who has notified her department that she wishes to return to work before theend of her 52 weeks' entitlement to maternity leave, is entitled to change her mind. However,in these circumstances, she should give her department notice of this new, later date at leasteight weeks before the earlier date.