Maternity Leave Letter template

Maternity Leave Letter template

Dear [name of your employer/manager]

Re: Request for maternity leave

National Insurance No: [add your NI number here]

I am writing to let you know that I’m pregnant and that my baby is due [insert your due date here]. I have enclosed my MATB1 certificate which confirms my due date.

I would like to start my maternity leave and pay on [insert the date you’d like to start your maternity leave]. I understand that if I wish to change this date I have to give you a minimum of 28 days’ notice.

I understand that I qualify for 52 weeks' maternity leave, made up of 26 weeks ordinary maternity leave and a further 26 weeks additional maternity leave.

I believe I qualify for SMP. Please can you confirm this, and let me know what amount I will receive.

Please let me know if you require any information. I look forward to hearing from you to confirm these details. [Your employer is obliged to confirm within 28 days of this letter]

Yours faithfully

[And sign here]

Do you need to say when you're thinking of coming back?

If you want to, you can also include the date when you’d like to return to work after your maternity leave. But you don’t have to. Your employer will probably expect you to take your full leave entitlement of 52 weeks.

If you do take 52 weeks, you don’t legally have to give any notice that you’re coming back. However, let’s face it, it’s better if you do – so your employer is aware of what your plans are.

If you want to return earlier than the 52 weeks, you simply need to give your employer 8 weeks’ notice.