Work not to sure what to do????

Hi girls,

I have been in my current job now for over 3 years and I plan on leaving work on the 7th April 06.

First off I was going to take 12 months mat leave (I dont get any pay) and then I changed my mind to leave my job in April and not return.

In my job I cannnot return to it after 12 months p/t only f/t and I dont want to work f/t I want to stay at home with bubs and only work if I have to and then only be p/t.

But then I was thinking that maybe I should take out the 12 months mat leave just to cover my self if I need to return to work f/t afther the 12 months.

I have told my boss that I will just leave as the last girl who was pregnant sorta stuffed them around abit and I dont want to do that.

Also if I was not pregnant I would be looking for another job as I have been bored here for about the past year.

Please help

Bec

Hmmm.. I would probably be leaving my options open and saying I'm coming back. Who knows what might happen in the future to change your mind? Chances are they will get someone else to cover your position while you are on leave, so if you decide not to come back after all that person could just stay on.

If you work full time, how come you don't get some paid maternity leave? I thought it was the law??

Thanks Kylie,

I will talk to DH tonight and then tell my boss tomorrow. That does make
sense to leave the option open if I need to return.

I work in a small private run company so there is no chance of getting paid mat leave. I have just been bored here for ages that is another reason why I was going to leave for good.

Thanks

Bec

I'd also do that, so if you are desperate there is a job for you & you can always go back, but look for something as well....

I don't think you'll be stuffing your company around by taking the 12 months and then deciding while on maternity leave whether you want to return or not.

At this stage, no one should expect you to make a decision about what you may or may not do in 12 months time. As long as you give your company at least a months notice prior to your intended return that you won't be coming back, they can't expect anything more than that. If you find another job in the meantime, you're not doing anything you wouldn't be doing even if you were still working full-time.

I would definitely be taking the 12 months if I were in your position.

love
sushee

I was in a similar position - if I went back to work after 12 months I would have to do f/t, they couldn't offer me a p/t position. I took the 12 months leave to keep my options open - I was being cautious, just incase of financial catastrophes, or something happening to DH's job etc. As it happened, I resigned 9 months into my mat leave as by then I knew I didn't want to go back.

I think you are well within your rights to do this - like sushee said, no one should expect you to know what you want do at this stage. It doesn't hurt to keep your options open.

Thanks girls,

I have sent the boss an email as I am not sure where he is atm, so I best do it now rather than later.

I have told him that I will take 12 months mat leave and I will finish on the 7th April.

So I now say bring on the 7th of April :)

Bec

Well I am just updating you since having a talk to my boss a minute ago.

He was saying that it is harder to get someone in for a 12 month contract and that he will have to pay casual wages.

He also asked if I would be able to cope coming back to work f/t with a baby.

Now I am really confused as I think he is trying to get me to leave otherwise it will be hard to replace me for 12 months ](*,).

But I dont want to come back f/t in 12 months I want to only work p/t if at all. But there is always a but, what if I did leave and we needed the money? what if I decided that I did not want to come back after 12 months I would feel really bad as I am too nice.

I dont want to stuff my employer around either. He said to think about it again lol

Uhhh

Bec

Don't let him bully you into doing what he wants you to do and by putting he guilt trip on you.He'll manage without you.You do whats right for YOU. If you want to take the 12 months maternity then do it, I would. Its not stuffing him around, its YOUR RIGHT!

I agree too. I don't think it should be you who has to bear the burden of guilt as to whether they will have to replace you with a casual employee or not. I don't understand him anyway, as many people are employed on 12 month fixed term contracts to cover maternity leave. This is certainly not the big issue he's making it out to be.

Furthermore, it's very wrong and very unprofessional for him to expect you to make a decision about whether you intend to return full-time at this stage, and is certainly over-stepping his boundaries by questioning if you'd be able to cope.

He is legally obliged to hold on to your job for you. You are legally obliged to give him 4 weeks notice if you don't return. Anything outside of this is politics that, frankly, he shouldn't be playing. Your rights are set in stone in legislation. Remember this, as it is there to protect your rights, the rights of your family as well as those of your emploer.

I personally would be even more resolute in taking the 12 months you are entitled to.

love
sushee

Thanks girls,

I still dont know what to do. I dont think I have to get back to him straight away.

I plan on talking to hubbie and mum over the weekend and discussing it with them.

I am just so mad that he tried to guilt trip me out of it. I should be able to still have a job to come back to in 12 months and I have no idea what the future holds and what it will be like in 12 months, which is what I told him.

Sometimes I just wish I could see into the future lol

Bec

LOL, Bec, I have just read this and got a strange sense of de-j'vu! I have also replied to you on WSA.......!

Bec,
My employer did this to me, you don't know what circumstances that may come up whilst on leave. I agree tell him nothing but that you have intentions of returning. My employer rang me constantly from the time Eliza was 10 weeks old wanting to know if I wanted to return earlier..they have no right, your right as a full timer is maternity leave and whether he has to pay someone more, that isn't your fault..even thou it sounds like he could advertise for a maternity leave position and train them before you leave.
Leave the door open, and tell them nothing except you are having 12 months mat leave, and if you don't want to return...write a letter of resignment :p just like me!!
Bec

Thanks girls,

I am 23 weeks pregnant and I plan on April 7 being my last day.

I also cant come back here p/t that is why I was going to leave in the first place, but the thought that I have no idea what the future holds in the next 12 months is a concern of mine, that is why I wanted the option to come back f/t.

Lucy I have read what you wrote on WSA just have to reply to it.

Did the same thing happen to you?

I am still in 2 minds as I dont like being treated like this so it is just easier to leave, but then I might be out on my bum. If I do take the 12 months, well that is a normal thing to do?

I dont think I have that much time to decide? and I think I would only have to give 2 weeks notice not 4.

Thanks girls

Bec

Bec, before I had Olivia and Charlie I worked as a manager within a call centre, so I had to really be on top of all current HR legislation in relation to mat leave, as the majority of our employees where women of baby making age!

Despite my company being percieved as "family friendly" when I was pregnant with my first pregnancy, my boss tried to do exactly what your boss is doing, and it made me SO mad, cos like you I felt that maybe I should just leave to keep everyone sweet. In the end, I didn't leave, and kept my options open, and I am so glad I did, because I then ended up moving to Darwin with the company, something I would never have predicted, and it was a great opportunity for me and DH personally and work wise that we never ever imagined ourselves doing!

(I have since left, but that is two babies later!)

The majority of women I know all feel similar to you: that the new stage of having a baby is so exciting that the thought of simply leaving is appealing, and easier. But the majority of women I know/have worked for me, have taken the 12 months mat leave and then considered their options when their babies are around 10 months old. The parental leave legilsation is designed to allow you to do this, and I persoanlly would take advantage of it!

From my experience with Olivia and Charlie, the way you feel about your baby and work, being a FT Mum, working PT etc etc etc really changes & varies over the months, hence I think it is best to keep your options open, and then review when your mat leave is up. This is what nearly all women did at my last company too. We had about 50% return, 50% resign after mat leave.

HTH

Thanks heaps Lucy reading about your experience has helped me to realise that I am not the only one that has been in this situation.

Also your experience in the area and what you have written is fab!

This place is definatley not family friendly lol.

I hate also having such a councois (sp?) and wanting to do the ring thing, why am I like that lol

I really do need to leave my options open for the next 12 month.

I am still going to talk about this with hubbie and family and then let him know soon.

Thanks heaps

Bec

Bec

I was also going to not go back to my job but I ahve decided that I am and start back in a weeks time.I was like you and thought I'd stay at home but I changed my mind after having Gemma. For a start yep the extra money is starting to get more and more appealing even though I really didn't have to go back to work and just to get back out into the real world again as I've found being a SAHM for me is very isolating.But like I said those were my feelings and reasons.

Like Lucy has said at the time of beng pregnant not going back to work and just leaving seems like the obvious easier choice.I had problems with my owrk they forced me to go on maternity leave at 23 weeks and pressured me not to come back.My boss said how could she put someone on a contract as well and how could I bear to leave my baby with strangers!WTF!It was so none of her business what I did!

Its totally up to hun as you could always find another job later anyway that is parttime and fits in better with your new lifestyle.I was actually allowed to pick my hours when I decided to come back to work!I got lucky though.

Goodluck in deciding...........only you know whats best for you and your family to be.............

Hi bec,

I have just gone from Salary down to Part time emplyment. I admit I am only in my first trimester buy I know my boss would appriciate knowing what I am thinking of doing...hope that made sense.

I am not paid maternity leave either..just 12 months of time off. I would check out your award and find out how much notice do you have to give if you decide to go on maternity leave and then wish to resign. It is a damn hard decision I understand coz when you think about it, your future banks on what you decide.

I am also bored with my job and have been doing it for 2.5 yrs now. Going part time feels like running arouns the streets naked. I still keep things like sickies and AL but it feels wierd. I start in 2 weeks time and am very excited about having the house to myself when DH is at work!!!! I think you will know what the right choice is, like a gut feeling.

Best of Luck :smt023

Thanks girls,

I am still planning on taking 12 months mat leave at this stage.
I have not told my boss as he has not asked and I have been way to busy to even think about it.

I am still really peeved with him for treating me like that in the first place and I have no discussed it with many people that I work with.

My hubbie is also trying to get into uni so in 12 months time I may need my job to go back to. But I am not telling work anything as he has not been accepted and they dont need to know as it is my hubbie not me.

I would still rather go back p/t but there is no way that would happen.

Bec

Bec all you need to do as you have done is make the decision to take 12mths leave the rest is your own personal decision and no business of works, especially at this stage.

I was in a similar boat except I'm in a huge company but no paid maternity leave - didn't even have policy so we just had to go by legislation. I got the you won't want to come back full time my wife is so glad she didn't blah blah and we'll never be able to offer you part time.

When my leave was coming to an end - I went up to them - new boss by this time - and siad well basically I'm resigning cause I won't be coming back full time - the only work I'll be able to do is from home so am going to go looking for that if for anything - they were so short staffed I've been working from home 3 days a week ever since (that was over 18 months ago).

As you say your situation in 12months plus may be completely different so you need that time to make up your mind and find out where you're going. Don't feel guilty its your time to take and even though you personally mightn't want to go back at least it leaves you with an option if come 12 months there is nothing else available to you.

Sorry for rambling and hope it all works out.

Bec, I've come late into the discussion, but I agree with Lucy (I'm not from a HR perspective, I'm from the union delegate perspective!), give them the bare essentials of information and if you get pressed beyond this just say that you don't have to discuss it.
Employment supplements of weekend papers are full of maternity leave positions, so if your boss claims it's too hard, then you're the least of his worries.
Regardless of whether you want to return or not, you stick to your entitlements. If you find something else near the end of your leave, give the appropriate leave (outlined in a contract, award or agreement) and take off. Your boss has asked for it, quite frankly. And he DOESN'T have to pay casual wages, unless he advertises for a casual, instead of a fixed term full timer.
Put it this way, if you roll over and let him bully you into resigning before you take your leave, it makes it so much easier for him to do this to someone else - and it's no skin off your nose, really, to just say you'll come back (even if you don't). Your allegiance should not lie with someone who is trying to swindle you out of entitlements that women have worked bloody hard to receive in the last few decades.
As for your conscience, let it look after you, especially as it is all too clear that your boss is looking after himself and his own interests. Don't help him out, regardless of your inkling that you won't go back.
My manager asked if I would be coming back (in her "I really, really care... but probably not about you" kind of way) and I told her I would. How does this even matter when I'm casual?? Ugh! The Fed Govt was trying to say that most employers do the right thing... how come I only know of the ones who don't?
Sounds like you're on the ball and getting your confidence back about the scenario and what to say to him:)

IK and Jaspen,

Thanks I still plan on taking the mat leave, but now I am looking at doing it earlier like telling him as early as next week after my Ob app.

Our circumstances have changed and I am trying work to stressfull so I want to stop now and take mat leave starting as soon as he can find somone and I train them up.

Is it to early to take mat leave now?

Bec