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The Daily Insight

How do I resign after maternity leave?

Author

James Olson

Updated on February 16, 2026

Follow these steps to write a resignation letter after maternity leave:
  1. Think about why you're resigning from the position.
  2. Start with a formal greeting.
  3. State your purpose for writing.
  4. Include your final employment date.
  5. Provide brief reasoning for your resignation.
  6. Offer your assistance during the transition.

Beside this, is it OK to resign after maternity leave?

Even if you know you want to quit, there are a few legal matters to consider. First, you should know that unless you have an employment contract limiting your ability to quit, you are completely within your rights to quit your job.

Furthermore, what happens if I don't go back to work after maternity leave? You're entitled to return to the same job after maternity leave if you've been away 26 weeks or less. It's unfair dismissal and maternity discrimination if your employer says you can't return to the same job. You can take steps to resolve an unfair dismissal, starting with talking to your employer.

Consequently, how do I quit my job after maternity leave?

So, yes, legally you can quit now; you don't have to wait until you return from FMLA. You also don't have to give two weeks' notice. That's a nice thing to do, but it's not required by law, only convention. Clearly changing jobs at this time isn't as easy as you may think, but it's completely legal.

How do you tell your boss you're leaving after maternity leave?

If you're still on maternity leave when you're writing and sending the resignation letter, consider sending it in an email and asking your supervisor or HR manager if they'd like to discuss your decision to leave in-person or via phone call.

Related Question Answers

What happens if I don't return to work after maternity leave NHS?

If you don't plan to return

If an employee has notified her employer that she intends to return to work for the same or a different NHS employer and then does not do so within 15 months of the beginning of her maternity leave, she will be liable to repay the whole of her maternity pay, less any SMP or MA paid.

Can my employer ask when I will return from maternity leave?

Can my employer ask me when I will be returning to work after maternity leave? An employer can ask when you are going to return to work. It is advisable to provide as much information as you can, but you should not: Be put under pressure to provide information about when you will return before you are obliged to do so.

Can I work for another company while on maternity leave?

There is no right for an employer to demand that an employee undertake such work, nor is there a right for the employee to do such work. If the employee works for another employer during the statutory maternity pay period but before the baby is born, the employer should carry on paying statutory maternity pay.

What happens if I do not return to work after FMLA?

If you do not return to work after 12 weeks of FMLA leave, your employer can stop making health insurance payments on your behalf. Even before that, if you tell your employer that you do not intend to return to work, your employer can stop making those payments.

Can you quit a job while on leave of absence?

Generally, you may terminate an employee at the time he tenders his unqualified intent to resign. The FMLA entitles eligible employees of covered employers to take unpaid leave for certain family and medical reasons. That means you may—but are not required to—immediately move to terminate the employee.

How long is your job protected after maternity leave?

12

Can my employer reduce my hours after maternity leave?

An employer is not permitted to change your hours of work unless they have your agreement to do so. Your employer may decide to force the change on you i.e. insist that you reduce your hours. This would be a breach of contract and you would be entitled to resign and claim constructive unfair dismissal.

What happens if I'm on maternity leave and get pregnant again?

You can go on maternity leave again if you get pregnant while you're already on maternity leave. You don't need to go back to work between your pregnancies. You'll need to check whether you can get maternity pay a second time, but apart from that you have the same rights as during your first pregnancy.

Should work contact you when on maternity leave?

Your employer can occasionally contact you about work while you're on maternity leave, but they have to be reasonable. Before you start your maternity leave it can be useful to agree in writing how often your employer can contact you. Tell your employer if you think they're contacting you too much.

How long do you get full pay on maternity leave?

How much statutory maternity pay you'll get. Your statutory maternity pay lasts up to 39 weeks, made up of: 6 weeks getting 90% of your average weekly pay (before tax)

How long after maternity leave can I resign NHS?

A clause does exist within the NHS contract. Section 15 of the NHS handbook states that to claim NHS contractual maternity pay you must intend to return to work with the same or another NHS employer for a minimum period of three months after your maternity leave has ended.