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Returning after parental leave
By Nancy Osazee, Founder
Maternity leave, paternity leave, and Shared Parental Leave are different entitlements, with different lengths and pay. The current rules and the pay rates are on GOV.UK. This page does not copy the weekly rate, because it changes.
If you are returning to the same employer, ask what the first week looks like, whether your role is the same, and how flexible working is requested. If you are looking for a new employer, the career-break CV page is the one to write first.
Written by Nancy Osazee, Founder of CareerPilot. This is a practical note, not advice about your own visa, contract, or legal case. Read the official page linked on this sheet before you rely on a figure.
Before the first day back
- Confirm the date in writing.
- Ask for a handover: what changed in the tools, the team, and the deadlines.
- If you need a different pattern, look at the flexible-working request page. The right to ask starts from day one of employment, including a return.
Pregnancy and maternity in the Equality Act
Pregnancy and maternity are protected characteristics. This page is not a judgment on a particular employer. If the role you return to is not the role you left, get advice from Acas or a solicitor rather than from a checklist.
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On CareerPilot
If you are job hunting rather than returning to the same desk, start with roles already marked part-time.
Questions
How many weeks is maternity leave?
Read GOV.UK maternity pay and leave for the current length and the pay. This checklist will not freeze a number that the government updates.
Can I ask for part-time hours on my return?
You can make a statutory flexible-working request. The employer must consider it. They can refuse for a business reason. See the flexible-working page.
What if I am not going back to the same job?
Use the career-break CV. You can describe the leave in one line and lead with the work.
Sources
- Maternity pay and leave (GOV.UK)
- Shared Parental Leave and Pay (GOV.UK)
- Equality Act 2010
- Applying for flexible working (GOV.UK)
Last checked 10 October 2026.