Hi all,

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!

Bah humbug.
Kirsten