Q&A: Is it compulsory for an employee to give their employer 8 weeks’ notice, should they wish to return to work early from maternity leave?
Published on: 16/04/2026
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Article Authors The main content of this article was provided by the following authors.
Madison Bowyer Associate in the Employment Law Group of Arthur Cox NI

Stay ahead of the curve with our exclusive Q&A series, brought to you by leading law firm, Arthur Cox, LLP, designed to answer your most pressing legal questions. These expert insights provide clear guidance to ensure your HR practices remain compliant and protect your organisation.  

This month's question:

Is it compulsory for an employee to give their employer 8 weeks’ notice, should they wish to return to work early from maternity leave?  

In Northern Ireland, employees who take ordinary maternity leave (“OML”), comprising the first 26 weeks of statutory maternity leave, and/or additional maternity leave (“AML”), comprising the final 26 weeks have the right to return to work.

In circumstances where an employee takes the full statutory maternity leave (52

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Disclaimer The information in this article is provided as part of Legal Island's Employment Law Hub. We regret we are not able to respond to requests for specific legal or HR queries and recommend that professional advice is obtained before relying on information supplied anywhere within this article. This article is correct at 16/04/2026