Leaving job during maternity leave help

tubie22

hi all!

Basics: worked part time (16hrs) in retail for 2 years, fell pregnant and started maternity leave in August 2014. Received maternity allowance as didn't earn enough for smp. Got word on Monday that the stores hours are being cut and everyone will be affected. I knew from when I left for my mat leave that I want going to be returning but wanted to leave it as late as possible to accrue my holidays over my mat leave. Now manager has asked me to let her know by tomorrow whether I'm ok to have hours cut (she's under the assumption I'm returning). Should I just be upfront now and say I'm not returning, even though my maternity doesn't end until end of July? I may save other people's hours from being cut if I say now. However, someone else there has just handed their notice in yesterday and I don't think manager would be very happy if I did it too. There is a very low staff number as its a small shop.
Or should I play along and say I want x number of hours cut and keep the assumption going that I am returning until a month or 2 before I'm due to return and then give my notice in?

Thanks

DiscoDiscoDisco

Business is a cruel world. Ask yourself the question: If it was you or her, who would she pick?

Pretty harsh, but with most companies, that's the way it works.

tubie22

DiscoDiscoDisco wrote: »

Business is a cruel world. Ask yourself the question: If it was you or her, who would she pick?

Pretty harsh, but with most companies, that's the way it works.

Thanks,

So you're saying I should just tell her now that I'm not coming back?

DiscoDiscoDisco

I was actually saying the opposite. If she would choose to save your skin over her own (ie. run herself into the ground so you got your pay cheque) then tell her now.

If you think she would screw you over so she didn't lose out, wait those couple of months.

It's entirely up to you. It's a personal decision

tubie22

DiscoDiscoDisco wrote: »

I was actually saying the opposite. If she would choose to save your skin over her own (ie. run herself into the ground so you got your pay cheque) then tell her now.

If you think she would screw you over so she didn't lose out, wait those couple of months.

It's entirely up to you. It's a personal decision

Ah ok, sorry!

So I should just play along so to speak and say I am happy to have my hours cut etc, even though I won't be returning at all. If I hold off on telling them, surely I'll accrue my annual leave until I hand my notice in? Whereas if I tell them now, I will lose any holiday I could have accrued from now until July?

amiehall

There's a difference between informally telling your manager you won't return and formally handing in your notice. Definitely dont actually resign. Warning your manager doesn't affect your legal status but its up to you if you want to do it.

getmore4less

I would remind them that as you are on maternity your job and hours are protected( although less as you are taking extended maternity).

You could hint that they may be better making people redundant rather than cutting everyones hours to the point they resign.


Also point out that if they do cut your hours you will be on holiday even more in the year.