Someone please talk some sense into me ….

Evilm

The answer for you is: Its not your problem.

Concentrate on living your life. If you get pregnant and for some reason the job isn't there for you to go back to at the end of your maternity leave then that's life and you will move on and find something else. They should consider making accommodation for part time work after returning anyway - I'm sure there is some legal stuff to cover this but I don't know what Act it is in.

If the person they get in to cover you makes a mess of it that's not your problem (until you get back and have to sort any remaining mess out anyway! At which point you will be welcomed back with open arms). If the person is good at it then they will either get found another role or it shouldn't affect you. Whether it does or not is not worth worrying about now.

lorne57

moneypuddle.......my daughter planned to conceive around the beginning of 2008 when she got married.......she's still trying and has since found out she has further health problems which may make it even harder for her to conceive

Don't plan your life away, enjoy your job and your life while you can.........you never know what is or is not round the corner

an9i77

OP you don't have to commit to how long you are definitely taking off when you take maternity leave, but most companies will ask you to give an indication and will base any cover requirements on this. You can then change this date at any point during your maternity leave(increase or decrease) by giving eight weeks notice. I have done some maternity covers in my life, and so long as you give the right notice, they will just give the cover person notice to fit in with this.
I also agree that it's not really your problem - don't worry about landing your manager in it, her job is to manage you and sorting out your maternity cover would most defnitely come within this remit.
At the end of the day, whilst it's very conscientious of you to worry about what would happen whilst you were not at your job, they will cope without you! If there is a sufficiently long handover period you can train up the temp until they know what they are doing!
And you do have the right to return to your job (if taking six months or less leave) or another similar one on no less favourable terms (if taking up to 12 months). Any employer getting rid of you and keeping on a temp would be on VERY dodgy ground, legally, and you could probably take them to the cleaners at a tribunal.
Best of luck

dandelionclock30

Your looking too far ahead,you might never get pregnant or it might take you absolutley years of I.V.F.
Just take one day at a time and worry about things when they happen.

Savvy_Sue

It is a good idea to have an 'office manual' or 'procedures manual' or 'idiot's guide' for anything which only one person in the office knows how to do.

You never know what's around the corner. One previous boss used to talk about "if I fall under a bus". In my case I fell over the recycling box. Bang, one seriously busted shoulder, and "I'm writing you a certificate for 8 weeks initially".

Fortunately I'd finalised the payroll the day I did it. The next month's payroll was a bit of a mess, but the basics were in place, thanks to my trusty Office Manual. No-one really knew it was there until I told them where to find it, but in it were instructions for a complicated mail-merge which needed to be done, instructions on setting up new email addresses for the new staff who started while I was off sick, even instructions on what was likely to go wrong if we had a power cut!

Did they miss me? You bet. Were they glad to see me back? You bet. Am I indispensable? Doesn't look like it ...

moneypuddle

Thanks so much everyone especially Lizzywig - its great to hear I'm not alone! Good luck with your baby!

I would rather be a worrier than someone who sticks their head in the sand. I know I might not get pregnant right away but can't be relaxed enough just to think 'it might happen and i'll think about the consequences then'. Its odd to me that people live that way but I guess everyone is different. I suppose when you want something so much it just overtakes your life.

I might starting the user manual suggest early on then I have plenty of time to think about how to maybe streamline things ever further before the time comes to go on leave.

Thanks again

jc808

Question:

Are you a director/ shareholder/ owner of the company and/ or do you recieve major profits from the operation of the company?

If the answer is no, its not really your problem.

Their problem for being so reliant on one person/ no contingency/ crosstraining.

Noone is irreplacable - let them get a temp in,

evespikey

You do sound like a worrier, and if you do start a family, you definitely need to relax this as your kids will pick up on it!

However like others have said, you are a bit ahead of yourself. Don't start planning (or worrying) until you have conceived. And sadly, not all pregnancies come to term, despite all best laid plans. There are some things you just can't plan for.

Judith_W

OP, I don't know how 'pushed' you are in your job, but I would recommend starting doing hand-over notes if you have time without it being too obvious (you can make notes without splashing 'handover' all over them). That way you can at least stop worrying about the mat cover not knowing what they are doing. You obv cannot stop them entering something wrongly, but I'm sure high attention to detail will be a key criteria for the job when they advertise.

Legally, I think if you are off for 9 months you are guaranteed your exact job back if the role still exists, not sure after 12 if this is different.

Savvy_Sue

Judith_W wrote: »

Legally, I think if you are off for 9 months you are guaranteed your exact job back if the role still exists, not sure after 12 if this is different.

Correct, if you return after only taking your Ordinary (paid) M/L you have the right to return to your original job / hours / salary. If you take Additional (unpaid) M/L I believe you still have the right to return, but the company doesn't have to keep the exact same job open for you. And if you ask to go back p/t or with any changes, then you don't have the right to get what you want.

As for the handover notes, if anyone asks you can always say that you are documenting the things you do on a regular basis to see if there are any areas where improvements could be made.