Entitlements on unpaid maternity leave

Ellsbells

Does anyone know what you are entitled to for the 16 weeks of unpaid maternity leave?

Agent_99

Unpaid = Unpaid, It is your decision to take this period of Mat Leave.

Additional maternity leave
From 1 March 2007 you are also entitled to take up to a further 16 weeks’ additional maternity leave. This period is not covered by Maternity Benefit, nor is your employer obliged, unless otherwise agreed, to make any payment during this period

Unless

If you become ill while you are on additional maternity leave you may ask your employer if you may end the additional maternity leave. If your employer agrees you will not be entitled to the remainder of the maternity leave but will be treated as being on sick leave and you may be entitled to Illness Benefit.

Ref http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/employment_rights_and_conditions/leave_and_holidays/maternity_leave.html

mrsbyrne

You have no entitlements at all financially, but you are still accrueing annual leave and any Public holidays that may occur.

Redtop

Count yourself lucky that you are getting any maternity benefit at all. When my wife and I worked in the USA, my wife had to take all of her maternity leave UNPAID. American employers are obliged to give you maternity leave but they are not obliged to pay you for a single day that you are off work. The state did not pay any maternity benefit either. Needless to say she could only afford to take off 6-8 weeks in total (unpaid, I might add). Ireland is particulary generous when it comes to maternity benefits.