UK Recruitment Glossary
Maternity Leave
In recruiter context
26 weeks Ordinary Maternity Leave plus 26 weeks Additional. Statutory Maternity Pay runs 39 weeks: six weeks at 90% of earnings, then 33 weeks at the lower of £184.03 (2024-25 rate) or 90% of earnings. Many employers enhance this — "6 months full pay" is increasingly common at larger firms. Keeping In Touch (KIT) days let you work up to 10 days during leave without ending it. You have the right to return to the same role for the first 26 weeks, and a similar role thereafter. Paternity leave is 2 weeks; Shared Parental Leave splits up to 50 weeks between parents.
Related terms
Zero-Hours Contract
An employment contract with no guaranteed minimum hours — you only get paid for the hours you actual…
Take-Home Assignment
A timeboxed work sample completed in your own time and submitted before the next interview round.
Onboarding
The process of setting up a new hire — paperwork, equipment, training, introductions.
Exit Interview
A meeting with HR or your manager during your notice period to discuss why you're leaving.