In the event that the baby is hospitalised, it is possible to postpone part of your maternity leave and/or additional maternity leave (or part of it) provided:
- Your employer agrees, and
- You have already taken at least 14 weeks maternity leave, four of which are after the end of the week of confinement.
You can then return to work and take the remainder of your postponed leave (referred to as resumed leave) in one continuous period, to commence within seven days of the discharge of the baby from hospital.
The maximum period leave can be postponed is six months.
You must notify your employer in writing as soon as reasonably practicable of your intention to take resumed leave. You must provide this notice no later than the day on which the leave is to begin. Your employer may waive such notification.
If you are absent from work because of illness during the period before you commence your resumed leave, the first day of this absence will be taken to commence your resumed leave, unless you notify your employer in writing that you do not wish to commence your resumed leave. Your absence will then be treated as sick leave, but you will not be entitled to take the resumed leave.