During your leave

Your line manager should ensure that you are kept informed about changes at work during your leave, particularly if any of the changes will directly affect your job or career development.

Keeping in touch

During your leave you may be offered (or you can request) up to ten Keeping In Touch (KIT) days. You cannot take KIT days during the two week period of 'compulsory maternity leave' immediately following childbirth.

• KIT days are mutually agreed, paid days of work where you come in to work, make contact with colleagues and catch up with developments in your workplace. They do not affect your maternity benefits.
• If you use KIT days your line manager will need to inform Payroll by email confirming the date of the KIT day and the number of hours worked. This is so that, where necessary, a payment can be made.A 'day', in KIT terms, is defined as anything from attending a 1 hour meeting to a full 7.4 hour day. You are paid for your Keeping in Touch days, however, they must not be used to accrue time off in lieu.
• Use of one of your 10 KIT 'days', in KIT terms, is defined as anything from attending a 1 hour meeting to a full 7.4 hour day. You are paid for your Keeping in Touch days, however, they must not be used to accrue time off in lieu.
• Payment for a KIT day will be inclusive of SMP payment for the week. Where payment for the day's work is in excess of the weekly SMP payment, the difference will be paid. Where payment for a day's work is less than the weekly SMP payment then you will receive the SMP payment only.
• The type of work undertaken during KIT days must be agreed between you and your line manager and might typically include attending a conference, training course, or a meeting. It is not intended that you use these days to continue your work during maternity leave or to work from home.
• The University is not obliged to offer you KIT days; similarly you are not obliged to work any that are offered.

Employee benefits

Your period of maternity leave does not affect your service as an employee, and you will receive any normal pay increments (if applicable) and accrue annual leave while on leave.

Annual leave can't be taken while you are on maternity leave, so you are allowed to carry forward any untaken holiday to the following leave year. We suggest you talk to your manager early about how you intend to manage your leave.

Members of the USS or University of York Pension schemes will have their pension contributions made for them while they receive Occupational or Statutory Maternity Pay. During any unpaid maternity leave, your active membership of these schemes is 'suspended'. This means that the period will not count as pensionable service, but that benefits will still be paid in the event of death or ill-health retirement.