NHS employer - hassle after maternity

[Deleted User]

Can't believe the grief wife is getting about maternity off NHS employer.

Plan was to end maternity and then take the leave the accrued before actually going back. Checked the policy and this is what the trust recommends! Other than that, she'd be going back to work with almost a two years leave to use in 9 months....

Other thing was she wants to go back on less hours. I though the trust were obliged to honour that but they've said no to it. Does anyone know what the laws/NHS rules are for this?

tomtontom

I fail to see any grief or hassle.

The employer is obliged to consider a request for reduced hours, they do not have to grant it if there is business reason not to.

The employee can request to take her holiday leave at the end of maternity but again this does not have to be granted. Perhaps she should ask when it would be possible to take it?

Ozzuk

Not sure on NHS specifics, but I believe (from t'internet and experience) a company is encouraged to try and accommodate reduced hours especially where children are involved but they can't be forced to.

She is lucky in a way, I thought most organisations only allowed very limited hours to be carried over to a new leave year.

[Deleted User]

Ozzuk wrote: »

Not sure on NHS specifics, but I believe (from t'internet and experience) a company is encouraged to try and accommodate reduced hours especially where children are involved but they can't be forced to.

She is lucky in a way, I thought most organisations only allowed very limited hours to be carried over to a new leave year.

The trust policy allows leave to be accrued whilst on maternity. Obviously, it would be pointless restricting carry over to new year if the person was on maternity for the year. As such, policy states carry over rules do not apply in this instance.

[Deleted User]

Ozzuk wrote: »

Not sure on NHS specifics, but I believe (from t'internet and experience) a company is encouraged to try and accommodate reduced hours especially where children are involved but they can't be forced to.

She is lucky in a way, I thought most organisations only allowed very limited hours to be carried over to a new leave year.

But the legislation is pointless. All it does is force employers to 'consider' requests. In practice, they can say no because its inconvenient and make up any excuse.

Previously dealing with wifes employer has also indicated that they seem to think the law does not apply to them mostly. All requests for less hours from staff in the past few years have been rejected. All they do is go through the process and make some excuse up.

Its scandalous that an NHS employer treats staff like this.

[Deleted User]

tomtontom wrote: »

I fail to see any grief or hassle.

The employer is obliged to consider a request for reduced hours, they do not have to grant it if there is business reason not to.

The employee can request to take her holiday leave at the end of maternity but again this does not have to be granted. Perhaps she should ask when it would be possible to take it?

So indeed a pointless obligation. Any employer if they think to grant would cause them even the slightest bit of inconvenience can quite easily derive a business reason.

Its a bit like introducing employment law saying PLEASE BE NICE TO YOUR EMPLOYEES IF YOU DON'T MIND.

fufu_banterwaite

[quote=[Deleted User];64838371]Its scandalous that an NHS employer treats staff like this.[/QUOTE]

Blimey, you should see how staff in other sectors get treated! That might cause you to re-evaluate your opinion of what is scandalous!!!

[Deleted User]

fufu_banterwaite wrote: »

Blimey, you should see how staff in other sectors get treated! That might cause you to re-evaluate your opinion of what is scandalous!!!

I don't doubt that its worse in the private sector. Merely pointing out that a public sector employer should follow the rules without being forced to.

Takeaway_Addict

[quote=[Deleted User];64838397]So indeed a pointless obligation. Any employer if they think to grant would cause them even the slightest bit of inconvenience can quite easily derive a business reason.

Its a bit like introducing employment law saying PLEASE BE NICE TO YOUR EMPLOYEES IF YOU DON'T MIND.[/QUOTE]
It would be a ridiculous law as well to say

'An employer has to allow a change of working hours at the whim of an employee'

fufu_banterwaite

[quote=[Deleted User];64838444]I don't doubt that its worse in the private sector. Merely pointing out that a public sector employer should follow the rules without being forced to.[/QUOTE]
Are you sure they are rules rather than guidelines?

Takeaway_Addict

Ozzuk wrote: »

Not sure on NHS specifics, but I believe (from t'internet and experience) a company is encouraged to try and accommodate reduced hours especially where children are involved but they can't be forced to.

She is lucky in a way, I thought most organisations only allowed very limited hours to be carried over to a new leave year.

Any woman on maternity leave still accrue their holidays and as Paul has mentioned it is carried over, however, as long as they get the holiday the employer can still say yes or no as to when to take it (but the vast majority allow it at the end of maternity because its easier to keep cover then)