Maternity leave / going back dilemma

elsien

Is it not worth giving it a go anyway? Do you know who the other person doing the job share is and have you thought about how committed they might be to making it work.
You may be right about the employer, but you may also be reading too much into it. Isn't it worth a try - yes you might lose some pay for a month but if it works you have a job going forwards if that's what you really want.

sangie595

Fay_elizabeth wrote: »

Hi All,

So please bear with me, its a bit of a long story...

Worked for my employers for 3 years as their sole employee (receptionist, private health clinic) Started Maternity leave in January, set to return after 9 months in October. In May I contacted them (via email) to request part-time hours on my return. They thought about it for a few months and then August got back to me and said yes they'll set up a job share as long as I will return 1 month early in September. I was hesitant but agreed.

Received my contract last week stating that the job share will be on trial for 1 month and if they decide its not working out both parties will be terminated (!) upon clarification, they agreed that I would be offered my old hours back.

The more I think about the new contract and the 1 month trial the more I think perhaps they are not really willing to give a job share a go but want to show willing for legal reasons (flexible working) I have a strong feeling that they will want to terminate the job share after 1 month, in which case I will be out of a job as they know I cannot afford to return full time. I feel by going ahead I am basically sacrificing a month of maternity pay to work for the same amount of money and then lose the job at the end of it - lose/lose situation.

Ideally, now I'd decide not to return - however, its 10 days away. Would they be able to withhold my last months maternity pay if I didn't return now? I'm not really sure what to do.

You have agreed a date to return to work. To change that you must give eight weeks notice. Otherwise they are entitled to refuse to pay you at all. You would be in breach of contract, and could be dismissed anyway.

You appear to be arguing that you'd like to assume what your employers intend, and as a result, base your actions on something they haven't done. Has it occurred to you that they may genuinely not be sure how a job share on the only job they have might work??!

Takeaway_Addict

Fay_elizabeth wrote: »

Hi All,

So please bear with me, its a bit of a long story...

Worked for my employers for 3 years as their sole employee (receptionist, private health clinic) Started Maternity leave in January, set to return after 9 months in October. In May I contacted them (via email) to request part-time hours on my return. They thought about it for a few months and then August got back to me and said yes they'll set up a job share as long as I will return 1 month early in September. I was hesitant but agreed.

Received my contract last week stating that the job share will be on trial for 1 month and if they decide its not working out both parties will be terminated (!) upon clarification, they agreed that I would be offered my old hours back.

The more I think about the new contract and the 1 month trial the more I think perhaps they are not really willing to give a job share a go but want to show willing for legal reasons (flexible working) I have a strong feeling that they will want to terminate the job share after 1 month, in which case I will be out of a job as they know I cannot afford to return full time. I feel by going ahead I am basically sacrificing a month of maternity pay to work for the same amount of money and then lose the job at the end of it - lose/lose situation.

Ideally, now I'd decide not to return - however, its 10 days away. Would they be able to withhold my last months maternity pay if I didn't return now? I'm not really sure what to do.

You're reading way to much into this IMO


If they didn't want to let you do part time hours they could have easily refused your request and on valid business terms.

TELLIT01

getmore4less wrote: »

Why not do a bit of research on the rules for SMP and other maternity related stuff rather then keep guessing on threads that are on the subject?

For contractual they can have any rules they like(almost).

The OP didn't say whether they were only getting SMP or not and other threads have mentioned the requirement to return to work to qualify for the payment. That's why I asked the question. The thread in question is this one https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5882803/nhs-returning-to-work-after-maternity-leave-can-i-just-work-bank
and I don't need lessons from you on researching a subject.

getmore4less

TELLIT01 wrote: »

The OP didn't say whether they were only getting SMP or not and other threads have mentioned the requirement to return to work to qualify for the payment. That's why I asked the question. The thread in question is this one https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5882803/nhs-returning-to-work-after-maternity-leave-can-i-just-work-bank
and I don't need lessons from you on researching a subject.

In the post just before yours they only mention SMP in the contract.

Any requirements for contractual would be in the contract.