Announce your departure on maternity leave to your employer 

Unlike all the procedures put in place in social institutions such as the CPAM or the CAF. An employee who is expecting a child is under no obligation to follow any of these notification procedures. There is no legal provision to oblige them to inform their employer of a departure on maternity leave according to a precise timetable.

It is however recommended for practical reasons not to delay too much. Because the declaration of pregnancy gives rise to a certain number of privileges and rights. Declaring your pregnancy helps protect against a potential dismissal. To have the possibility of requesting a change of position. To obtain an absence authorization in order to pass medical examinations. Or the option to resign without notice.

How long does maternity leave last?

Article L1225-17 of the Labor Code stipulates that all pregnant employed women must benefit from maternity leave close to the estimated time of delivery. This rest period depends on the estimated number of children expected and those already dependent.

In the absence of more satisfactory conventional measures, the duration of maternity leave for the first child begins 6 weeks before the expected date of delivery. Called prenatal leave, it continues for 10 days after childbirth. Called postnatal leave, ie a total duration of 16 weeks. In the case of triplets, the total duration of the absence will be 46 weeks.

If you are the proud mother of triplets. You can choose to waive part of your maternity leave. But it cannot be reduced below 8 weeks and the first weeks after childbirth are included.

What happens if there is a complication during pregnancy?

In this case, we speak of pathological leave. An employee who is ill due to her pregnancy or who has complications after childbirth. Benefit from additional medical leave granted by his doctor. This leave will be equivalent to maternity leave and in this case, covered 100% by the employer. Article L1225-21 of the Labor Code also provides for a maximum of 2 weeks before the start of the prenatal period and 4 weeks after the end of the postnatal leave.

How is the return to work going?

Article L1225-25 of the Labor Code stipulates that once the maternity leave of an employee has ended. The latter will return to her job or a substantially similar job with at least the same salary. In addition, according to article L1225-24, time spent on leave is counted as an equivalent period of actual work for the calculation of paid leave and seniority. A medical check-up is still carried out in the first eight days after returning to work.

The best way to report your maternity leave to your employer?

One of the methods recommended for employed women is to notify their pregnancy by specifying the dates of their maternity leave. All this in a registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt or receipt. In which, it is important not to forget to attach a medical certificate of pregnancy.

In the rest of the article, you will find a model pregnancy declaration letter. This model is intended to indicate the date of your departure on leave. As well as a sample letter of notification of your medical leave sent to your employer in the event of complications. If you have questions about your rights, consult a staff representative or social security.

Example number 1: Mail to announce her pregnancy and the date of her departure on maternity leave

Name
address
CP City

Name of the company that employs you
Human Resources Department
Address
CP City
Your City, date

Registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt

Subject: Maternity leave

Mr. Director of Human Resources,

It is with great joy that I announce the imminent arrival of my new child.

As stated in the attached medical certificate, her birth is expected by [date]. I would therefore like to be absent from [date] and up to and including [date] for maternity leave in accordance with the provisions of Article L1225-17 of the Labor Code.

Thank you for taking note of this and remain at your disposal for any further information.

Pending confirmation of your agreement for these dates, please accept, Mr. Director, my best regards.

 

                                                                                                           Signature

Example number 2: Mail to inform your employer of the dates of your pathological leave.

Name
address
CP City

Name of the company that employs you
Human Resources Department
Address
CP City
Your City, date

Registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt

Subject: Pathological leave

Mr. Director,

I informed you in a previous letter, of my state of pregnancy. Unfortunately my medical situation has deteriorated recently and my doctor prescribed 15 days of pathological leave (Article L1225-21 of the Labor Code).

Therefore, by adding my pathological leave and my maternity leave. I will be absent from (date) to (date) and not from (date) to (date), as initially planned.

I send you the medical certificate describing my situation as well as my work stoppage.

Counting on your understanding, I ask you to accept, Mr. Director, my best regards.

 

                                                                                                                                    Signature

Download “Mail to announce her pregnancy and the date of her departure on maternity leave”