Hello all
The short version:
My work weren't very nice during my pregnancy. Didn't appreciate pregnancy related issues. I was passed up for promotions and payrises. Since I went on Maternity Leave in June this year I've had zero contact from anyone - whether work related or personal (I did USED to be friends with these people outside of work too!). I've just seen an email that I was CC'd in that says "Maternal Musings no longer works for the company, please amend the email address associated with this account". I'm on Maternity Leave, I haven't LEFT. They obviously don't expect to see me back in my old job! What can I do? Where do I stand? If I was to leave, how would my SMP work? I didn't get any Maternity pay from the company, I only get SMP but it's paid through work into my bank account. Will I need to reapply?
The long version:
I'll try and keep this short and concise! (I'm not renowned for being able to do that very well however! Please bear with me!)
I've worked for a fashion retail head office since March 2009. I got on really well with colleagues both inside and outside the office. It's quite a young office however, both in age and the mentality for those who aren't so young. I didn't exactly make it unknown that my partner and I wanted a family one day. But why shouldn't I? Oh apart from the fact that it isn't "cool" to want to settle down and get on with life. The people at the office have that 'Peter Pan syndrome' and just don't want to grow up!
When we decided to move from an apartment in central London to a 2 bedroom cottage in Essex in July 2011, the office was already gossiping that I was pregnant. It got back to me straight away. That's when the colleagues changed. My boss stopped looping me into emails. My boss stopped signing off my proposals... or even reading them. I was refused a payrise, despite fulfilling all that was asked of me and more. (I was told there was a freeze on pay... yet 3 people within the department were given payrises soon after!). I always got to work early and stayed late. I was running an entire department on my own, no assistants, no manager.
I fell pregnant in November 2011. I had an awful pregnancy. At 12 weeks I had CVS. I still went to work, did work at home and kept my head down. I had 7 additional scans during the pregnancy and was being seen between 3 different hospitals. When I was 32 weeks pregnant I was diagnosed with SPD. I was in absolute agony but continued to drag myself into work. I made my employers well aware of my condition. I wasn't provided with appropriate equipment at my desk to help keep me comfortable, despite several conversations about this. I ended up making a foot stool to keep my feet elevated (Doctors advice for swollen feet and SPD) out of two cardboard boxes. Everyone could see that's what I had done and yet nobody questioned it. I took cushions and pillows to sit on at my desk and during my last 2 weeks also had my hot water bottle for my back (in June!!). It got to the point where my boss was ignoring me completely. Didn't even say good morning as he passed my desk. Even though 9 months before, we were friends outside of work!!
A manager was employed 2 months before my Maternity Leave. We were however, basically, at the same level. I don't think she liked that; as I questioned her proposals and offered my own opinions. A week before my Maternity Leave began she took me aside and asked why I was "looking down". So I said I believed they were deliberately keeping me out the loop of things. My appraisal had been re-scheduled and re-scheduled and re-scheduled since April 2012. They obviously didn't want to give me an appraisal as I would have asked for another payrise (no payrise since May 2010, despite promises etc). She said that they were just in a 'transition period' because of my impending leave. But SURELY I still should have been kept in the loop? I was that fed up that I just left it at that. It felt like they were trying to push me out by making me so fed up with the place... so I would voluntarily leave. I had so much other stress and strain going on... but I WISH I'd gone to HR about it all. I WISH I'd stood up to everyone. But I'm not someone who likes confrontation! And they knew that. They knew I was too good natured.
On my last day (22nd June 2012) My boss didn't utter a word. No 'thank you for the past 3 years of hard work and dedication' not even a 'good luck with everything!'. NOTHING. I was gobsmacked. But it certainly put everything into perspective.
I thought I would use my Maternity Leave to see how things would go with work. To see if they would keep in touch... about developments within the department, and the new 'team' I was going to be part of, and of course about new vacancies.
Since I had my amazing baby boy, I haven't had a single text, email or phone call from anyone. Not even a work related one. I've been checking my emails intermittently, as I said I would, but it's all generic. I've not been looped into any developments or updates etc.
Now then, I've literally just checked my emails and saw one from the aforementioned new manager. I was CC'd and I get the impression she didn't realise. She had written "Maternal Musings no longer works for the company, please can you amend the email address associated with this account". EXCUSE ME WHAT?
Nice to know I'm being remembered on my maternity leave after all! They obviously don't expect to have me back at work.
I don't think that I would be 'looked after' if I went back. I wasn't looked after while I was pregnant and I doubt they would be sympathetic about any parenting needs that might occur in the future. Whether I was full time or part time.
My Maternity Pay was poor compared to everyone else I know. I was given 6 weeks at 90% my normal salary and have had SMP since. My SMP ends in April 2013 and is currently paid into my account through my work, as that's what I was advised to do. If I hand in my resignation, what will happen to my SMP? Do I need to reapply?! How does it work?
Also, I just wanted to ask, where do I stand considering my treatment during my pregnancy and since?
MASSIVE post, so MASSIVE apologies. Feels good to have gotten it off my chest though!
If you've read the long version, THANK YOU!
Hope someone can help?
Thanking you! xxx
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Where do I stand? Awful time during pregnancy at work, no contact on Maternity Leave... resignation?
11 replies
MaternalMusings · 09/11/2012 19:01
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