Understanding Your Maternity Rights at Work

Q: When Do You Need to Tell Your Employer?

By law, you need to inform your employer of: Your pregnancy, Your estimated due date, When you would like your maternity leave to start. This must be done by 15 weeks before your due date (which is around 25 weeks of pregnancy).

Hannah Ketcher
Apr 8
2 min read

Updated: Apr 10

Pregnant woman sat working in her home office, cradling her bump

As you move further into your pregnancy, you may find your employer starting to ask about maternity leave plans and paperwork. This is completely normal, and it can feel helpful to understand what’s expected — and what you’re entitled to.

When Do You Need to Tell Your Employer?

By law, you need to inform your employer of:

Your pregnancy
Your estimated due date
When you would like your maternity leave to start

This must be done by 15 weeks before your due date (which is around 25 weeks of pregnancy).

Many people choose to share the news earlier, but this is the legal timeframe to be aware of.

Your MATB1 Form

If you’re employed, you may have been asked about a MATB1 form. This is an official certificate that confirms your pregnancy and your estimated due date. Your employer uses this to arrange your maternity leave and to process your maternity pay, such as Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP).

By law, this form can only be issued once you have reached 20 weeks of pregnancy. I will provide this for you at your appointment once you reach that stage, so there’s no need to organise this yourself.

Time Off for Antenatal Appointments

You are entitled to paid time off for antenatal care. This includes:

Midwife appointments
Hospital appointments
Ultrasound scans

These appointments are an important part of your care, and your employer is legally required to allow you time to attend them.

After your first appointment, your employer may ask to see confirmation of your appointments, but they cannot refuse reasonable time off for your antenatal care.

Partners are also entitled to attend antenatal appointments, although this is usually unpaid.

What If You’re Self-Employed or Your Work Situation Is Different?

If you’re self-employed, on a zero-hours contract, or in a less straightforward working arrangement, your entitlements may look a little different.

You may not qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay, but you could still be eligible for Maternity Allowance or other forms of support. It’s worth exploring your options so you can plan ahead with confidence.