Maternity Policy Summary
This page provides a summary of the Maternity Policy. For full details, please refer to the complete Policy on the Maternity Policy page.
What is this Policy about?
The Maternity Policy outlines the leave and pay available for an employee having a baby.
Who is this Policy for?
- University employees who are having a baby.
- Managers handling applications for maternity leave.
What do I need to know?
Maternity leave
Employees can take up to 52 weeks' maternity leave. The minimum amount of maternity leave an employee can take is 2 weeks. The earliest an employee can start their maternity leave is 11 weeks before the week their baby is expected to be born.
Maternity leave will start automatically if an employee is off sick with a pregnancy related illness in the 4 weeks before the week their baby is expected to be born. If an employee’s baby is born early their maternity leave will start automatically the day after the birth.
Maternity pay
Pay during maternity leave is as follows:
- Enhanced maternity pay of 26 weeks of full pay (this includes statutory maternity pay, subject to eligibility criteria)
- 13 weeks of statutory maternity pay (subject to eligibility criteria)
- Remaining weeks of maternity leave are unpaid.
Enhanced pay is paid on the condition that the employee returns to work for the University for 3 months following maternity leave. The Maternity Policy gives full details about eligibility for maternity leave and pay.
Ante-natal appointments
An employee is entitled to paid time off to attend ante-natal appointments. Their manager may ask for evidence of an appointment.
Keeping in touch (KIT) days
An employee can ask to work on 10 occasions during maternity leave, these are known as KIT days. A manager will decide if they can accommodate a request for a KIT day. An employee is paid for the hours they work on a KIT day. A manager should email Payroll (payroll.enquiries@admin.cam.ac.uk) to arrange for an employee to be paid for the hours they have worked.
Procedure
An employee needs to submit a Maternity Leave Application Form (CHRIS/60 form) to apply for maternity leave and pay. An employee also needs to submit a 'MATB1 certificate', which will be provided by their midwife or consultant.
An employee needs to complete a CHRIS/61 form to advise the date they intend to return from maternity leave.
Neonatal care leave
If an employee has a baby that receives neonatal care for 7 days or more in the first 28 days following birth, they will be entitled to take neonatal care leave in addition to maternity leave. See the neonatal care leave section of the Special Leave Policy for details.