AIBU to be furious with my boss?

[smellimelli]

I am on maternity leave. I'm going back to work full time next week as my flexible working request was turned down. Today I went into work to get organised and found out that my maternity cover has been given a 2 day a week contract. If I didn't need the money I would have told him to stick his job. AIBU to be this furious?

[LydiaWickham]

I'm sure someone else will be along to give you good advice, but I believe if they turn down your flexible working request, they have to explain why it wouldn't be possible for the company to do that. They also have to prioritise perm staff over temp staff if there is a limited number of flexible posts available. Is the 2 day a week job the mat cover has been given something you could/would do or would it be a step down for you?

YANBU to be furious, you would be to let it come out in your dealings with him.

[smellimelli]

The 2 day week would be a step down for me but it is a contract that is until the end of the year. I would have been happy to do it for this fixed period and then take it from there- either to continue or go back to full time (as baby would be that bit older).

So if they have to prioritise perm staff, should I have been offered the post first?

[lesley33]

Not sure as it is a step down for you. tbh as a boss I would have worried about offering you something that was a step down - legally I mean - as you have the right to come back to a job at the same level. I would have taken legal advice though. But it might be that it would have been dodgy legally for them to offer you this other job 2 days a week.

[scarlettsmummy2]

could it be that the job needs some-one full time but this is just a bit extra until you get back into the swing of things? after all we are only talking ten weeks.

[mollymole]

So there are now 2 jobs, 1 which is full time and 1 which is 2 days a week.
Which one of these 2 do you want ?

[kirrinIsland]

If you took the 2 day a week job, it is a different job to yours. I'm not sure where they stand legally in offering you a post that is lower than your existing one but if you took it you are leaving your old post, which they would then be entitled to fill. But then, what if they don't renew the contract at the end of the year? What if taking it from there isn't an option and you have to stay on 2 days a week? I understand why you are annoyed but it is possible that your job can't be done part-time. Did they tell you why your request was turned down?