maternity leave

Meaning

Maternity leave is a period of approved absence from work for a female employee before and after giving birth to a child. This time allows the mother to recover from childbirth and care for her newborn baby while keeping her job security.

Examples

• She plans to start her maternity leave about two weeks before her due date.

  She plans to start her maternity leave about two weeks before her due date.

• Our company offers six months of fully paid maternity leave for new mothers.

  Our company offers six months of fully paid maternity leave for new mothers.

• While Clara is on maternity leave, her daily tasks will be divided among the team.

  While Clara is on maternity leave, her daily tasks will be divided among the team.

• She is looking forward to returning to work after her maternity leave ends.

  She is looking forward to returning to work after her maternity leave ends.

• The HR department helped her fill out the paperwork for her maternity leave.

  The HR department helped her fill out the paperwork for her maternity leave.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ She is doing her maternity leave right now.

  ✓ She is on maternity leave right now.

  We do not use the verb 'do' with leave. The correct phrasing is 'to be on maternity leave' or 'to take maternity leave'.

• ✗ He is taking maternity leave to look after his new daughter.

  ✓ He is taking paternity leave to look after his new daughter.

  'Maternity leave' is specifically for the mother. For fathers, the correct term is 'paternity leave'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Jessica will be on ___ for the next six months to care for her newborn.

  💡 Time off for a mother after giving birth.

  Show answer

  maternity leave

• We need to hire a temporary replacement to cover her ___.

  💡 The period a new mother spends away from her job.

  Show answer

  maternity leave