Maternity leave cover starting 11 weeks before my return!!!

[anysuggestions]

Hello

I posted a while ago about my flexible working issues and everyone was so very helpful. Just to say that I haven't decided on what I'm doing yet, but I now know how to proceed, so thanks again!

Just had an e-mail (sent to all staff) to say that may mat leave cover is starting on Monday. My baby will be 20 weeks old next week. That's right. 20 weeks. I am going back to work in 10/11 weeks and there's no question of me staying off any longer. It's like they don't believe me.

Thing is that this is a 6 month contract. What on earth will I be going back to? As I'll have taken more than 6 months mat leave, I know they don't have to give me my old job back, but I have a feeling I will be made to go to something I really, really don't want to do in a section where there is seldom any work and noone to train new people (it's a slightly new area). I'm not leaving my 7mo baby to do nothing!!!

I feel really quite hurt. I told them I was pregnant the day after my 12-week scan, applied for mat leave in plenty of time. I'll be going back to work just as my cover is getting into the swing of the job and will be shoved somewhere just to keep me officially employed there!!!

My line-manager is the sort of person who really likes to know if her team is worried about something, but I don't know how to approach her on this without coming across as some awful diva or something.

TIA.

[flowerybeanbag]

anysuggestions I think you're a bit premature to be feeling hurt just yet. I would say speak to your line manager, that's reasonable, it's your job so it's fair enough to want to be kept in touch with what's happening with it.

Just say you are surprised to see that your mat cover is only just starting - have they been managing ok without any cover until now, and when you come back will this person still be there, if so is there enough for work for both of you, what's the plan?

I don't think it's 'diva'ish to just ask nicely what's the plan around your work area, particularly if your manager would want to know if you are worried. Don't sit there and fester!

[anysuggestions]

They haven't been managing - they've been telling me this since I went off. I don't think there is enough work for two - there sometimes wasn't enough work for me if I'm honest.

I think I feel a bit hurt as I'm worried about one particular aspect of my work which is a project that will fail as a result of my mat leave. I've read reports and everything that is supposed to happen isn't due to "staffing problems".

I'll ask her what's going on and she what she says. Thanks for your help.