Yes it means being employed, so if you're off sick you're still employed
But if you are sick within the last 4 weeks of your due date, your maternity leave would automatically start x
Ohh OK thanks everyone I get it now
It’s week 16-25, so not the entire pregnancy up until 25 weeks. Also, it’s up to the employer whether they start your maternity if you’re off sick in the last 4 weeks before due date, not a definite thing.
The only thing to be cautious of is if you are being paid SSP during the calculation period for maternity pay if it’s SMP you may end up not earning enough and may have to apply for maternity allowance x
It’s working till the 15th week of your baby being due so I am due 4th October and my qualifying week that I need to work till to get maternity pay would have been week commencing 17th June! Hope that helps x