Returning to Work after Maternity Leave!!

brednall

I am due to return to work on Tuesday after almost 10 months on maternity leave and holiday.

While I have been off, the college I work for has merged with another so the role I am due to return to is totally different to the one I left. I had a meeting with my new boss yesterday to find out what I would be doing, where i would be working etc and was less than thrilled with the information I received.

I have to travel quite a bit further to work through a city centre, pay to park, work with a totally different team of people, learn a whole new set of procedures etc etc, the list goes on and I also got the impression that I have now been given all the tasks that other members of the team either don't like doing or simply haven't got time for!!

To say I am not looking forward to returning is an understatement. I have to work a minimum of three months or I have to repay some of my maternity pay and at present, I can see me only doing the 3 months at the most.

Does anyone have any similar experience of this situation? I also have the potential problem of childcare costs although not immediately. THe prices we have seen will outweigh my salary so it's going to be a decision about whether to work to pay for childcare and have no spare money of my own or give up work and still have no spare money as all my DH's salary will be going on bills!! :eek:

Emma

LittleMrsThrifty

brednall wrote: »

I also have the potential problem of childcare costs although not immediately. THe prices we have seen will outweigh my salary so it's going to be a decision about whether to work to pay for childcare and have no spare money of my own or give up work and still have no spare money as all my DH's salary will be going on bills!! :eek:

Emma

Lots of people face this problem, it's not your employers fault. Do the 3 months, see how you feel, work out the finances for all options, then decide.

miss_duke

Check your staff handbook and see what the process is for changing your role, and check they followed it. In my wor,k there would be some consultation first between the jobholder and HR, they would try and get joint agreement from both parties before changing the job description. This is the case even if jobholder is off - happened to a colleague while on maternity. I suspect they ARE within their rights - but def worth checking. If you are having childcare issues anyway, then its probably irrelevant to be honest, by the sounds of it you will be leaving anyway?

Also check if theres any allowance payable for the extra miles you have to drive, in my case we get paid for the extra for up to 3 years.

Finally, and I am really NOT suggesting you do this, but in my work we have to return for one month after maternity to avoid paying back the difference - colleagues have taken this as sick abscence and that covers them, so they don't have to go back. I can't stress enough though that thats a very bad idea as it counts against you when looking for another job!

Googlewhacker

miss_duke wrote: »

Finally, and I am really NOT suggesting you do this, but in my work we have to return for one month after maternity to avoid paying back the difference - colleagues have taken this as sick abscence and that covers them, so they don't have to go back. I can't stress enough though that thats a very bad idea as it counts against you when looking for another job!

You do this you can kiss goodbye to any referance for the future