Maternity leave

You can work and be paid for up to 10 days during your maternity leave, except the first 2 weeks after the birth of your baby.  

You must not work at any other time during your maternity leave, except for on keeping in touch (KIT) days. If more than 10 KIT days are worked during the Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) period, one week’s Statutory Maternity Pay will be deducted for every week in which a day was worked.
 
KIT days are usually used to attend important training, key meetings or team activities. Working KIT days does not mean you can delay your maternity return date by the number of KIT days you've worked.

Arranging KIT days 

Contact your manager to discuss when you'll take your KIT days.

Recording and claiming KIT days

To get paid for KIT days, you must record dates you've worked during maternity or adoption leave in a keeping in touch days record form (DOC, 19KB).

Send this form to your manager who should sign it and upload to the Assyst portal.

When you’ll get paid for KIT days

You’ll be paid for KIT days in your first salary payment when you return to work at the end of your maternity, adoption or shared parental leave. 

If you're taking shared parental leave

You can work and be paid for up to 20 shared parental leave in touch days (SPLIT) during your shared parental leave. This is in addition to the 10 KIT days available during maternity and adoption leave.