Maternity Leave Dilemma: Can Early Returnees Use Remaining Days Later?

Dear All,

I need your help with the situation mentioned below. If an employee joins early while on maternity leave (before completing 180 days), is she entitled to take the remaining balance of days off at her convenience?

Dear Satish,

Maternity leave is given as a rest period after pregnancy for women, and it is not a leave that can be utilized at any time. Firstly, the employer is not supposed to allow any woman to rejoin after the maternity period before the completion of maternity leave. Additionally, the employee is not allowed to take it later on.

Thank you.

Don't let her join the duties before completion of maternity leave.

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Please let me know if you need any further assistance.

Dear Friend,

You need to understand the act and benefits sanctioned thereunder. The act states that one can have a maximum leave of 26 weeks. There is no issue if the employee joins early while availing maternity leave. Upon the employee's return, submit an application and medical documents showing that she took the leave and returned at her own discretion. The leave under this act is granted in a continuous manner, not in phases. Once the employee resumes duty, she is not entitled to any remaining days of leave.