What am I going to do??

[Nai]

As Jess said, maternity leave is a legislated entitlement through the federal government. So, provided you have been in your position for more than 12 months you are entitled to 12 months unpaid maternity leave and your employer is required to keep your position open for you to return to after that leave. So if you are part time now they must let you return to the same. I would suggest that if they need that role full time they look for someone who can job share with you. I'm sure there are people wanting to work 8-12 to cover the morning shift.

[Heaven]

Hmm....that sounds very unfair. What are the laws like where you are (South Africa is it??). Can they just change your job like that?

[Nadine216]

Ruth, Jess, Nai - I'm in South Africa ... the norm here is three months unpaid mat leave (Makes me think about emigrating ) But thank you for the info

I don't talk to my manager/boss (nice job huh) because he does not talk to me ... He took offence when I pointed out that if he lies to clients, he need to infrom me, so that I don't tell them the truth and they don't flip out at me over the phone. And he just have a *****y personallity that I can't handle. I have to add that he recently had open heart surgery and after that he has been even more of an @ss than usual. Oh yeah, he is an old dude too ... 65 ... stubborn as hell. It's actually time he retire, but that is not going to happen soon.

Big mistake .. but I don't have a contract. I had an arrangement with the girl downstairs (that he agreed to!!) ... she works mornings till 15:00 and I will be there in the afternoons. They won't be changing her times .. only mine, thus my deduction that they want to get rid of me.

We need my income DH is torn and unhappy about it, he wants me home, but we just can't do that. I'm going to say yes ... for now. I told DH that I'll be talking to the girl downstairs to see if she can negotiate for a tad higher salary (if they want me gone, I won't get it, but it's worth a try) I might also try and see if I can't get four month's mat leave (not going to happen) If after three months working full-time and I'm not coping or am unhappy with the set-up, I'll go and find another job ... or hopefully by that time we could afford to let me stay home .... or something pops up when I'm on mat leave and I will then only work my one month notice.

Life is too short to be in a job that you hate.

I know .. I'm going to be misserable .. I already am. BUT we need a roof over our heads and we need food on the table and although we would probably scrape through on only the shop's income ... WHY?? do we need that pressure on us and with ds on the way ... you never know what will happen. He could have complications or something and we would have bills to pay and, and, and (worry wart I am)