Pregnancy Forums

Posted: 17 June 2006 at 12:36pm | IP Logged

As most of you know I work full time and we are planning on trying for another baby from about August onwards.

I have just been promoted at work and am concerned that this is going to affect my pay when I fall pregnant.  Although I work for an international company they are not very good locally when it comes to dealing with maternity leave.  This is probably because I am the only woman that has ever gone on maternity leave and then returned to work where I am.

When I took maternity leave with Ollie I never really had any intention of returning to work but kept my options open luckily.  As Keith was made redundant and also could not work due to his shoulder disability.  This time however, I will want to return to work.  The job I do is a mettalurgy technician which is quite specialised so it will mean if they want someone to cover my maternity leave they will have to train them.  When I went on maternity leave with Ollie I was an Office Manager at the same place.  The person that covered my maternity leave was my junior.  When I returned to work this made the transition back quite difficult as she didn't feel she should then be back as the receptionist.  My boss allowed her to keep a lot of my previous work.  This wasn't a huge problem as I was moving up anyway and doing other tasks as well as Office Manager.

This time however it would really bother me if I could not return to my job I have now and someone else be allowed to continue in my role.  Also with pay, it is fixed locally and I am concerned that this would delay pay rises I am entitled to, I know this is against the law but prooving it is another matter.  There is no pay structure it is just done on the Managers say so, meaning I could not prove that I had missed out on a pay rise due to being on maternity leave even though I would know I had ( I hope that makes sense ).

How do I juggle work and having another baby?  I will probably return to work after the baby is 6 months again like I did this time.  I would also try and work for as long as I can but I know with Ollie I was very uncomfortable and didn't feel very well for the last 2 months of pregnancy so left in the January and had him in the March.

I know this is all hypothetical at the moment as I am not pregnant but how can I assure my position and pay and juggle having another baby without getting into a big argument with my Manager who just doesn't understand the law fully?

Posted: 18 June 2006 at 10:05am | IP Logged

OK, not sure how to word this all so bear with me!

When I found out I was pregnant, I had a long chat with my manager about what Axa could offer me if I came back full time or part time. I was very careful who I spoke to as I know I would have got different answers depending on who I spoke to! Craig (branch manager) was fantastic. He's a dad himself and understood my position and assured me that they wanted me back and would do their best to ensure that I could do the hours I wanted, what ever that would be.

From the conversations we've had, I know that there is an arse where you work and a nice man! Personally, I would sit down with Nice Man (who I think is Sam?!) and explain your position, that you do want to come back to work etc etc and that you will still be as committed to the company as you are now. I think www.tiger.gov.uk is one of the best sites that explains what your rights are - apologies if I'm telling you stuff you already know!

Do you have a staff handbook at work? Or if not, do you know if one exists? If so, try and get a copy and have a look what it says about maternity leave. I'm 99% sure that they have to hold your job for you if you say you are coming back, but I may be wrong!

Posted: 18 June 2006 at 1:28pm | IP Logged

Yes we have a staff handbook and yes I have a copy.  This doesn't really matter because Bob still does what the hell he likes anyway.  I am sure Sam will be sympathetic and would listen but at the end of the day Bob is the one who decides what goes and what doesn't and he is a crap manager at best.  He still works in the dark ages when empoyers could do what the hell they liked.  He doesn't understand maternity leave or sick leave.  He sacked someone a fortnight ago for going off work with work related depression....  He nearly didn't promote me because I have UC until I pointed out that was disability discrimination and against the law at which he back peddled and said he liked to have these things out in the open.  He only has 18mnths until he retires and then hopefully we will get someone in that knows their arse from their elbow but until then we are stuck with him.

There are other routes I can take if I feel I am being unfairly treated but I just feel it's really unfair that I should have to worry about my job because of having a baby.  It's not my fault men can't get pregnant!

Posted: 18 June 2006 at 1:47pm | IP Logged

Doesn't the law state that they only have to give you a "similar" type role if you go back to work?  They can't demote you, or give you a pay cut, but they don't have to keep your job open, just one with similar responsibilities - that is what I thought anyway..

at the end of the day tho, he will do whatever he likes by the sounds of it -

is there someone in HR that you could speak to about it?  I'd wait until after you are pg - I'm assuming that even if they couldn't offer you the same job back, you'd still want to get pg anyway so it won't do any harm to wait...

As for the pay rises, it is tricky if there is no pay structure in place...I know this is very unpc of me but I do think that women that are on maternity leave shouldn't really be entitled to a pay rise (unless there is a scheduled one that everyone is getting) - I believe that you get a pay rise if you've earned it and if you've been out 6 months on maternity leave, then it's not really deserved in my opinion - I realise this is controversial and not in keeping with what the law states but at the end of the day, employers are there to make money..why should they pay us more when we've not been working for it....?

I hope you manage to get something sorted so you can relax about the whole thing...

Posted: 20 June 2006 at 2:11pm | IP Logged

I think by law you have to beable to return to the position you were in before getting pg and they have to keep your position for you for 1 year.

Love Trudi.  xx

Posted: 20 June 2006 at 2:30pm | IP Logged

hello from a v hot prague - i am working- honest

great mumsam & flip - that's lovely - good luck for august!!

i think the law is 6mths mat leave - same job to return to

extended mat leave (up to 1 year) - you are offered a  job- same benefits but doesn't have to be the same job

when i had dd it was only 3mths mat leave - but for ds glad it was 6mths

glad too both my pgs were great - i worked to 39wks with both- must be a bummer to go on sickpay if any probs before due date- but that is the law i think

also - mumsam- with employment law - your bosses can't really do what they want

i work in a family owned, male dominated print company - so far i've not needed external help re pay & coniditions- but did remind HR of mat regs when i was pg & made sure all requests etc were in writing. The tiger website was quite helpful.

Posted: 20 June 2006 at 2:32pm | IP Logged

Had a mooch on the internet, pretty sure you've been doing the same.

Have a look at www.direct.gov and www.workingfamilies.org.uk  the working families site spells out everything including promotion etc

Happy hunting

Posted: 20 June 2006 at 3:00pm | IP Logged

I have been a working mother myself, but can relate to Greedy's point of view.  Although controversial, only in the sense that women in the West have been so accustomed to certain rights.

Let me explain:  When I worked for the High Commission in The Gambia my employment was as a locally engaged member of staff i.e my contract was legally binding under Gambian law.  It stated that in order for a woman to be legally entitled to maternity leave she would have to be in continous employment for 1 year. Otherwise she is expected to return to work as deemed fit.  This was me so I returned to work 5 weeks after giving birth.  I never questioned it as I was working with women who were doing exactly the same job under the same conditions.  Furthermore, I knew my contract when I took on the job so there was nothing to contest.

As regards to the law in he UK there is plenty of advice out there.  It's 6 months paid maternity although it does differ from company to company if they wish to extend.  Due to tighter legislation bosses cannot do what they want and it is their responsibility to hone up on employment law.  Furthermore, human resources should be able to advise you re: pay and leave. If it was me I would put everything in writing and document it.

Hth.