Unpaid maternity leave. | ExpatWoman.com
 

Unpaid maternity leave.

397
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 07 February 2012 - 20:08

I am due to take maternity leave from my job soon. I am taking the 45 days paid and my employers have also agreed to unpaid leave for an additional 3 months. However, they say as well as losing my basic wage for this period of time, I will also lose all benefits such as my housing allowance, utilities allowance etc for the unpaid leave. Are they legally entitled to do this? I am sure they probably are but really hoping for a miracle! :)
<em>edited by gingercat on 07/02/2012</em>

205
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 February 2012 - 10:18
Yes, I'm also taking unpaid maternity leave and I can confirm that I'm not getting any basic or housing allowance either.
943
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EW GURU
Latest post on 07 February 2012 - 20:49
Yeah I know exactly what it feels like...I've been on maternity leave twice, and my company are fantastic so I can't really fault them at all... I just wish maternity leave was as long as in other countries. Apparently some companies here don't even let u have the full 45 days, and make up all sorts of reasons to justify u having to come in to work earlier. I know somebody that was allowed 20 days off for maternity leave...I've had holidays significantly longer than that!
397
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 07 February 2012 - 20:29
Thanks! I thought so but just wanted to make sure I wasn't being conned! Am very grateful for unpaid leave. Some pay would have been ideal though! :)
943
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 07 February 2012 - 20:18
Unfortunately yes, unpaid is unpaid. My company allowed me to take unpaid maternity leave and I got no salary or benefits for the unpaid time, the only thing that still stood was my medical insurance, but that's probably only because you're insured anyways. I remember reading the labour law, and legally ur not even entitled to unpaid leave unless you are medically unfit to return to work, so just be thankful that they're allowing u unpaid leave in the first place. I know it sounds harsh (and it is!!) but I guess that's the law here :-(
 
 

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