What if I want to do Keeping in Touch days (KIT)

The manager and the employee should discuss and agree on voluntary arrangements for keeping in touch before maternity leave starts, including:

• making the employee aware of developments at work to support their return
• supporting employees in maintaining their professional registration
• advising the employee about developments that may affect their intended date of return

Employees can return to work for up to 10 days without bringing their maternity leave or SMP to an end. KIT days are optional but help to facilitate a smooth return to work for employees returning from maternity leave.

An employee cannot take KIT days within the first 2 weeks following childbirth. Any KIT days taken will not extend the maternity leave period.

KIT days can be consecutive or not. They can include training or other activities which enable the employee to keep in touch with the workplace. Working for part of any day will count as one KIT day from the 10-day allowance. Managers must carry out a risk assessment for any breastfeeding employee. The employer must provide breastfeeding facilities.

KIT days are paid as if the employee is at work and include any Occupational Maternity Pay (OMP) or Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) if the employee is not eligible for OMP. The combination of OMP and SMP cannot exceed normal average weekly pay. If a KIT day is worked in the full pay period, the employee will receive a day of paid leave in lieu once they have returned to work. If a KIT day is worked on a day of leave in the half-pay period, the employee will receive a half day of paid leave in lieu once they have returned to work.

To arrange payment for any KIT Days worked during your no pay maternity pay period we would require your TPD to contact us via our service desk https://nesdigital.atlassian.net/servicedesk/customer/portal/30/group/121/create/594 (please select the maternity leave option) once the day(s) have been worked to confirm approval for payment to be processed.