My work is covered under a collective agreement, bargained between our union rep and my employer. Anyway, when we all signed it a few years ago, what attracted me (and the main reason I signed it) was because it offered 14 weeks full pay or 28 weeks half pay maternity leave, plus annual leave, and the rest unpaid for a total of 1 year off.
So fast forward to this year. I apply for maternity leave (have to do it well in advance) and, naturally, select the half pay option. I mean, it's still the exact same amount of money coming in, but I was of the opinion that it'd be better to have a bit of money coming in for the longer period of time. But my forms arrive back in the internal mail with "REFUSED" stamped all over them! Why was this?
It turned out (after a million conversations with various managers- my goodness, the beauracracy!) that if I selected the "half-pay" option, Finance would ONLY fund my replacement at half-pay. If my replacement was to be full-time, as my current job is, then I had to select full-pay.
I went through the agreement with a fine-tooth comb- there was NO mention of it anywhere. I've informed the union. Of course, it's perfectly legal, and I am immensely grateful to have any paid leave as well as the rest to make up the full year- but geeze I think it's sneaky. Nobody will be able to utilise that option at all!
i'd be talking to the Office of The Employee Advocate or something similar - if you've signed an agreement for 28 weeks half pay, they can't decline it based on a technicality like that - no matter how YOU are paid, your replacement should be paid based on the job they're doing. that is such a crock!!
It seems that way to me too- I CANNOT see why the way I take my money affects the way my replacement is funded. Despite having no less than three various managers trying to explain it to me.
I've been waiting to hear back from our union on this, but it's obviously a very low priority. Oh, and I've informed every single woman in our office about it as well.
If the Union do there jobs properly you'll find you're quite correct. It makes no difference what they will be paying your fill in, they still have to pay you no matter what, they are two totally different things. I just don't think your employers payrole dept(or who ever handles these things) knows what they are doing. I hope you hear something soon and good luck.
How frustrating Kirsten! I was on the edge of my seat my entire pregnancy waiting for my work to "sting" me with my mat leave (because they did it to so many others) and have been waiting for a letter in the mail saying I have no job to go back to (wishful thinking ) but nothing - I go back in a couple of weeks. I really hope the Union can help you sort this out - I'm really pleased you have stood up for yourself and taken it to the Union. I hate it when employers try to jib pregnant women!
Thanks for the support- I'm glad there are others who see it as I do!
General consensus around the office is that Finance think it would be all too hard for them to organise if they have to pay me half-pay.
As I leave in 2 weeks, I've really no option but to take the full pay and budget very carefully, grrr (my manager was flatly refusing to sign the forms unless I ticked "full-pay", would you believe!) but the Union is receiving another very strongly worded letter. As is my federal government representative, who should be advocating for paid maternity leave to be universal, and who ISN'T. Family friendly government my arse. Mother Goose, I hope all goes well for you back at work! Are you going back part-time?
As a Finance Officer I'd have to say its laziness on their part as its in the company's interest to pay half pay over a longer time as the money is in their bank rather than yours for that extra time - I know the interest isn't that much, but all the companies I've worked for keep a really close eye on cash flow.
Kirsten - I hope your Union helps out - I really do.
I'm going back part time but I've actually picked up an extra day compared to my pre-preg work load! They actually asked me to return full time (which I was doing at the beginning of last year but cut back due to Uni) and I declined. I don't want DD in child care full time yet.
You poor love Kirsten. Strange your work - I would rather have the money in a high-interest account. Good for you on getting the union involved, your work is really messing you about with this.
oh thats unfair - why do they have the option for half pay if they arent going to give it to you anyway? I guess the positive is that you will be recieving payments either way.
hope it all works out for you.
That's crazy! I have the same options available. Don't they understand they are covering you for the full 12 months either way so what difference does it make if it is paid over 14 or 28 weeks? Seems like the finance department has no idea what they are on about.
I know that it's difficult with you leaving in two weeks and being pg, but I would absolutely be following this up. Too often employees are bullied into doing what is easiest for the employer, when obviously the explanation they provided you with makes not one bit of sense at all. Not one.
If were you, I would be spending all my time on the phone, with ministers, workers rights advocates and your union (again and again and again until someone listens) to find someone who will go to bat for you. For your manager to refuse to sign your form is equivelant to blackmail, and sounds incredibly unethical to me.
I have a long story with regards to maternity leave rights which I won't bore you with, but suffice to say, I was told early on that I wouldn't win my fight with my (govt) employer, but after making a lot of noise, talking to many people, writing a lot of scathing emails, and being determined, I got my way in the end. I knew I was right in principle, and it took me standing my ground for others to take another look at how they were doing things.
My union has not responded at all- can you believe it?!?!? Forget the letters, I'm picking up the phone at this point. Come on! Bah humbug, I am disgusted. But fear not, sushee; I will NOT let this drop. It might be too late for me (4 days to go of work, yippee!) but my office is now almost entirely female, and we're pretty much all in the 28-35 age bracket, and most of us recently got married. So if I can get decent conditions for them, and maybe for me for the second (I don't want to leave; it's a great job!) that will be a victory. Slowly but surely we WILL WIN this race.
Oh, and the option was in the agreement because the bargainers knew damn well the demographics of those who were voting for it, and (correctly) surmised that the half-pay option would be a major selling point. Like I said- they are sneaky sods. :-)
If I ever hear back from the Union or from my local Federal member, I'll let you know...
Kirsten
I was going for half-pay too so that I would double my length of paid maternity leave. Then
I found out how complicated it was if I needed to go back to work early and was still on paid leave (everyone tells me to never turn down a child care place even it's it a bit earlier than you wanted - I'm on a year waiting list for my work-places childcare centre).
I hope you get your half-pay as that is really what you want - but what I decided to do because it wouldn't work out for me - is to take my full pay but set up a direct debit out of my bank account into a separate mat leave savings account. As soon as I go on paid leave the DD kicks in, so although I'm on full pay for 18 weeks - I only pay myself half-pay from Aug - Dec. Then in January when my unpaid leave period kicks in (18 weeks) I will set up a new direct debit from the mat leave account and continue to pay myself half-pay. This way I can keep within my desired half-pay budget but still receive a "salary" to avoid spending it all on baby things in the first 18 weeks. ;-)
You shouldn't have to do this as you should be able to get the half-pay leave that is offered - but I just thought I'd mention this for anyone in the same position.
Our work also has this in their Maternity Leave , although I didnt select it as I also have annual leave owing & the interest is bestter sitting on my home loan than in their pockets!
Infact we can also get it in a lump sum...
The first thought that comes through my head is that if your replacement gets paid what you do, does this mean that after the initial 14 or 28 weeks, they work for free?
Sorry, but I think its silly, and how other people get paid is not your concern really - its your managers' concern.
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sneaky sods
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