Company Refused working days/Returning from Maternity Leave

minmac

***post deleted***

New boss has called and said I can have 1 day a week holiday for the first 6 weeks.
Thats ok by me so now resolved.

Thanks to everyone who read/replied x

paddedjohn

Don't know the answer to your questions but you come across as very bolshy, if you are like that when talking to staff at work maybe that's why you are not getting the answers you are expecting.

Takeaway_Addict

minmac wrote: »

Hi everyone - looking for advice really so heres the story....

I am currently on maternity leave and due back Aug. I am going back in April as we are struggling financially.

During my maternity leave work has called me in on 2 occasions to help them as they were struggling. I said I would use these as keeping in touch days and would take them back when I returned.

I had a meeting with my new store manager and proposed this (to ease me back in and get my baby used to me not being there everyday)-
I have 8 keeping in touch days left that I would like to use 2 days a week in March. So by the end of March I would have used all my 10 keeping in touch days you are allowed.

I would go back to work on 7th April full time but would work 4 days a week for the first 10 weeks to take back my 10 days. Then after 10 weeks it would be back to 5 days a week.

She said she would check with HR and get back to me....
She called me today and said it is ok for me to use my 10 keeping in touch days up but I am not allowed to do 4 days a week for the first 10 weeks.
I have sent her packing with questions like will I get paid for the 10 days etc that she is going to get back to me with.

What I want help with is this.... I want to write a letter to HR regarding this. I know companies do not have to let employees use their 10 days or pay them for them but I saw this as a way to integrate myself back into work and to also have my son get used to me being away gradually.
I asked my new store manager the reason why I was not allowed to do 4 days a week for the first 10 weeks and she said its because I am a manager and my contract is full time.
I informed her that a year ago we had a manager doing 4 days a week just because the store wanted to save money on the budget and the manager voluntered to do 4 days and that was ok so why is this not ok and I was then told... its because you are a senior manager.
Seems like they just have an answer for everything

I know the company are in no way obliged to let me do this but I think its unfair for the following reasons -

- Another manager was allowed to do 4 days so the store could save money on the budget
- I have done the store favours by going in when I was supposed to be on leave to help them when they were stuck
- I have asked (and it has been accepted) that when I go back I would be demoted from the deputy manager to the office manager, I done this out of consideration to the company. I cant really do any late shifts now with my son and instead of being stubborn and write a letter requesting flexible working (that they would have had to accept as there would have been no inconvinience to the company and I never done any lates for 3 years it was only because the new manager said when I come back she expected me to do them).
Does anyone have any advise of what else I can put in the letter to hopefully make them change their minds?

Thank You x

Have to agree with the above, you are not coming across well.

And as for flexible working, there are plenty enough reasons they could have found to deny you your request if they wished, so rather you doing them a favour its really vice versa.

FBaby

The problem is you are seeing it as a right that they should give you what you want because YOU believe it wouldn't impact on them. You seem to only be looking at it from your perspective and benefit.

Unfortunately, they might not see it the same way. They have the interest of the company to consider above your needs. In this circumstances, your best approach is trying to be conciliatory rather than confrontational.

paddedjohn

Deleted but saved for posterity in post#3

sniggings

just to say, glad the OP has the issue sorted but to delete the post after she got help from the forum was selfish, others may be able to get help from her question in the future, by using the search feature, doesn't work if the post was removed...glad to see Takeaway-Addict quoted the post so others can still gain something from this thread.

minmac

sniggings wrote: »

just to say, glad the OP has the issue sorted but to delete the post after she got help from the forum was selfish, others may be able to get help from her question in the future, by using the search feature, doesn't work if the post was removed...glad to see Takeaway-Addict quoted the post so others can still gain something from this thread.

I'm sorry... I honestly didnt think.

sniggings

minmac wrote: »

I'm sorry... I honestly didnt think.

no problem, sorry if it came across as harsh.

Takeaway_Addict

Glad you got it all sorted OP

minmac

Thank You - and I am really sorry to everyone about the way I came across. I am embarrassed by it. I just wanted to get the main points in. I didnt mention other things that maybe I should have, and I wouldnt have been shot down so hugely x

getmore4less

I thought kit days were paid?

not easy to search for a link. On the mobile