No matter the stage you are at a job, taking time off work for maternity leave is somewhat scary .
You might be a great businesswoman who wants to evolve. You could be a new employee who is still getting used to your new surroundings. It may look like being pregnant makes it hard to get a job. How can you keep the progress you made during your pregnancy and birth while still doing your job? A maternity leave letter can be the answer.
In this article, we will show you how to write a sample of a maternity leave letter after delivery in Nigeria.
What is Maternity Leave?
A maternity leave letter is a formal request written by a pregnant woman who just gave birth to officially ask her boss for time off work to care for her new baby or during pregnancy.
Reasons For Taking Maternity Leave
- A person may decide to take maternity leave for a number of reasons, including:
- Caring for and connecting with a newborn or recently adopted child.
- To recover from giving birth or a similar illness.
- Allowing the child’s other parent, if any, to form a bond and care for the kid.
- If the mother is the main caregiver, allow the infant to breastfeed.
- Allow the mother time to rest and heal after giving birth.
- Taking maternity leave can help both the mother’s physical and emotional health, as well as the child’s development. In Nigeria, maternity leave is legally protected, and businesses are required to provide time off to workers who are pregnant or have recently given birth.
Adoptive parents are generally required to take time off work to travel for the adoption or to attend the child’s medical appointments and procedures.
After adopting a child, taking maternity leave can help provide the necessary time and support to allow a successful transition for both the child and the adoptive parents.
See also: How To Write an Application Letter for Annual Leave With No Experience in Nigeria
The Components to include in a Strong Maternity Leave Request Letter
There are several things to include in your maternity leave request letter. This will help your boss to easily access and comprehend the details of your maternity leave. A convincing maternity leave letter consists of the following:
Your name, title, and employee number. In big organizations, your boss may want to evaluate your identification or the division for which you work. Including these notes keeps everything formal.
Your due date and how many weeks of leave you’re planning to use. To help your office prepare for your exit, arrange your last day of work a week or two before your deadline. Although babies arrive at their own pace, planning your final day can help reduce worry.
The name of a trusted colleague or teammate who will be handling your duties and responsibilities.
Clear boundaries for maternity leave. Is it okay to receive work emails while on leave? How about phone conversations? It may be helpful to show your level of comfort in writing to your management to avoid future misunderstandings.
Excitement about returning to work. Your company wants to ensure that it does not lose an important employee. If you show that you are eager to return to work, your manager will have greater faith in your dedication to the company.
After you’ve included these important details, send your request letter as soon as possible. You must provide your boss at least 30 days’ notice. More notice is always preferable, as it gives your office more time to prepare.
It’s a good idea to talk to your employer about maternity leave while you’re in a safe pregnancy zone, which is usually around 12 to 15 weeks!
How To Write A Maternity Leave Letter
1.Evaluate your employer’s maternity leave rules.
Before sending your maternity leave letter, ensure that you fully understand your company’s standards. If you have any questions, please call your manager for clarification. Evaluate and follow the maternity leave rules.
2. Send your letter early
To give your employer adequate time to plan for your absence, write your letter as soon as possible. The minimum number of days you must give notice for maternity leave is usually mentioned in the leave policy. To avoid confusion, please send your letter as soon as possible.
3. Use formal language and a professional tone
Your maternity leave letter must use formal wording and a professional tone, just like any other formal letter. Avoid applying unnecessary idioms and phrases. If your firm has a style sheet or guide, consult it for help on proper language and formatting.
See also: How To Write a Procurement Officer Cover Letter With Examples & Expert Tips
4. Use proper formatting
Select an easily visible font for your maternity leave letter. Consider using simple fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri, and Cambria. When writing professional emails, avoid using cursive or quirky fonts like Comic Sans and Caveat.
5. Explain why you are writing your letter
Try to write your letter in a simple and straightforward way. Tell them how long you plan to be on maternity leave and when it will begin and end. Your expected delivery date may also be stated in your maternity leave letter.
6. Provide your assignment plan
After discussing why you are writing the letter, go over your intentions in greater depth with your group. If you are receptive to the idea, you could propose working from home before or shortly after giving birth. If you prefer not to work while on leave, suggest that a skilled partner take over specific tasks while you are away. To cover your maternity leave, your employer may hire a temporary replacement employee.
7. Provide your transition plan
Assure your management that you continue to value your job within the company and your work. Tell us how you plan to resume your work schedule following your leave of absence. If you’re not sure how having a baby will change your lifestyle, be honest. Inform your company that you will reveal your return or transition plan later.
When you’ve finished your letter, tell your employer how much contact you wish to have with them throughout your leave of absence. Tell them if you want to work from home and stay in touch, or if you wish to avoid work totally. Your employer must know exactly what to expect from you while on leave.
9. Express appreciation
Thank your employer for their cooperation and understanding during this important time away from work. This shows that you are aware of your company’s policies, which go beyond mere formality. In your thank-you note, you can include details regarding the company’s rules.
See also: How To Write an Application Letter as a Cook in a Hotel in Nigeria (With Samples)
Sample Simple Maternity Leave After Delivery in Nigeria
Example 1: Casual Letter
If you work for a small business and have a good relationship with your boss, you can draft a more informal maternity leave letter. Because your boss is likely more familiar with you, you can supply fewer details. Email is a handy way to send this. Make sure your supervisor gets a copy of your email, as well as your HR.
Senders Address
Recipient’s Address
Subject: Maternity Leave Request
Dear Mr./Mrs. [Recipient’s Name],
As you know, I am now approaching the end of my pregnancy. I am due [due date] and plan to start my maternity leave on [starting date] and return to the office by [tentative joining date]. Barring any unforeseen issues regarding my pregnancy and delivery, I expect to be back to work at my previous position and workload.
I have been working closely with [colleagues name] and they are prepared to handle my responsibilities while I am away.
If my plans change for any reason, I will let you know as soon as possible. Thank you for allowing me this time to spend with my newborn.
See my attached maternity leave plan for further details.
Yours Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Example 2: Formal Letter
If you work for a larger company and are uncomfortable having casual conversations with your boss and HR manager, you should probably print out a letter and give it to them. If you provide extra details, you will have more confidence in your request for maternity leave.
[Name]
[Address]
[Date]
[Manager name]
[Business address]
Dear Mr./Mrs. [Recipient’s Name],
This letter is to inform you that I am pregnant and plan to take maternity leave. My due date is [date] and I plan to continue working until [date or suggest working from home until your due date or delivery]. I plan to take [number] weeks of maternity leave. I don’t expect to have any problem returning to my current position and delivering the same quality of work I do now.
While I’m on leave I suggest [name] be in charge of [specific parts of your job]. If you have any concerns, please let me know so we can address them.
While I’m on maternity leave, I am happy to reply to emails in my available free time, however I ask that phone calls please be avoided. Please let me know if there are any forms you require from me before I go on maternity leave. Thank you for allowing me to take this time to physically recover and care for my new baby.
See my attached maternity leave plan for further details.
Sincerely,
[Handwritten signature]
[Name]
See also: How to Write Address in Application Letter in 2024 (With Examples)
Conclusion
Setting expectations for your time off work is an effective way to do so when submitting a maternity leave request letter. Your manager will surely enjoy having a single document with your due date, duration of absence, and communication expectations. Don’t be shy about your passion for your company and excitement to return to work when your leave is over.
References
- Shemight –maternity leave letter after delivery
- Leverage edu -maternity leave letter after delivery
