What is additional maternity leave?

Additional maternity leave (AML) is the second 26 weeks of maternity leave available in the UK, following the initial 26 weeks of ordinary maternity leave (OML). The purpose of additional maternity leave is to provide extra time to bond with a new baby and recover from childbirth.

If an employee returns to work during ordinary maternity leave, they have the right to return to the exact same job. They have the same right if they return during additional maternity leave, but if the employer has undergone organisational changes and the job is no longer available, they must be offered a similar job with the same pay and terms as before.