Maternity leave - University of Oxford

Start of maternity leave/payA woman can choose to start her maternity leave any time after the beginning of the 11thweek before the expected week of childbirth, and may change her chosen start date bygiving 28 days notice.Maternity Leave will start automatically if she gives birth before her notified date or is ill for apregnancy-related reason during the last four weeks of her pregnancy.During maternity leaveThe employer may make contact with the employee (and vice versa) while she is onmaternity leave, as long as the amount and type of contact is not unreasonable (e.g. todiscuss plans for returning to work or to keep her informed of important developments in theworkplace).Work during the maternity leave period - keeping in touch daysThe employee can undertake up to a maximum of 10 days' work under her contract ofemployment during her maternity leave, as long as both she and her department haveagreed for this to happen, and agree on what work is to be done and how much she will bepaid for it.Returning to workIt is assumed that an employee will return to work at the end of her full 52 weeks of maternityleave unless she has told her department that she wishes to come back at any other time.The employee can return to work earlier than the full 52 weeks of maternity leave, or canchange the date of her return to work, as long as she gives eight weeks' notice to herdepartment.If an employee decides not to return to work at the end of her maternity leave, or returns towork for less than three months, the University reserves the right to reclaim all or part of thepayments made under the University scheme, minus any statutory maternity pay element towhich the employee was eligible.End of contract during maternity leaveIf a woman's contract is due to end during her maternity leave period normal arrangementsfor ending contracts will apply. However, it is recommended that the administrator contactshis/her Sector Personnel Officer for guidance on the appropriate procedures.If the woman has provided written confirmation that she wishes the department to seeksuitable alternative employment for her within the University, this should be sought in thenormal way. If it has not been possible, under the normal University rules, to redeploy her,then University pay and rights under the university maternity scheme end on the same daythat her contract expires, although she would continue to receive any remaining statutorymaternity pay, if she qualifies.