Before and during your maternity leave

You and your line manager may make reasonable contact during your maternity leave. You should talk to your line manager to agree what kind of contact you will have, for example:

• Would you like to be updated about changes happening at work?  If so, how would you like changes to be communicated to you?
• would you like the opportunity to attend work during your maternity leave to keep in touch, go to a particular event or take up a training opportunity?

Your line manager cannot demand that you come into work at any time during your maternity leave. However, if you and your line manager both agree, you can do up to 10 days' work during your maternity leave to ease your return to work. These are known as Keeping in Touch days and can include any work you would normally do and be paid for, and can also include attendance on training courses and at conferences.

Your line manager does not have to agree to any Keeping in Touch days, but equally you can't be forced to use them and will not be penalised for refusing to do so.

You and your line manager may find it helpful to start talking about these plans early on to agree what you will be doing on any Keeping in Touch days. For health and safety reasons you must not work during the first two weeks after the baby is born.