Maternity Pay Question

[russy01]

Please excuse my ignorance, but I know very little about this....

We have an employee on the books who is paid hourly, she is pregnant and due to take Maternity later this year. After the first 6 weeks have passed and her pay falls down to the SMP of £138pw her family will struggle.
So she has asked whether she is able to work a few hours a week and still be paid on top of her SMP. She gets paid a handsome hourly rate and its easy for her to do several hours here and there (which will be beneficial to us also). So if its possible to work something out for her we'd like to...

I have read that during Maternity leave an employee can work 10days and be paid whatever we decide...this is all I know.

Thanks

[Jasandjules]

What you are referring to are Keeping In Touch (KIT) days. A female on maternity leave may take up to 10 days without her maternity period coming to an end. Note that none of these days may be taken during the first two weeks after birth and furthermore that any contact - even if for a one minute phone call - would count as a full day for purposes of KIT.

[russy01]

Ok, thanks.

So SMP and these 10days. Otherwise anything over 10days and she'd be deemed not on leave and would just get paid for the hours she did and forfeit the SMP?

[Jasandjules]

So much more to maternity leave to avoid discrimination, do you not have a panel employment law firm?