Respond where maternity leave has been triggered by an early birth
Key points
An employee's ordinary maternity leave period usually begins on the day that they have notified as being their maternity leave start date (within the permissible parameters).
If, however, they give birth before their planned maternity leave start date, their ordinary maternity leave begins on the day following the birth.
The employee is obliged to notify the employer as soon as reasonably practicable of the birth. The employer must then write to them with their new maternity leave end date within a set time frame.
