URGENT: Help ... HR seem to think I'm returning to work after ML on Monday - I'm not expecting to be back until Friday!

[crochetdiva]

I'm currently on maternity leave, and when I originally filled in the bumf from HR, I said I intended to return to work on Monday 14th July. I sent all that off to HR (I work for a council)

However, on May 8th, I contacted my line manager by email and let her know that I'm actually returning to work on Friday (18th) - she confirmed I'd contacted her and said: "Thanks for confirming your return date".

I've just had my post, and have had a letter from HR, which says that they're expecting me in work on Monday - I've phoned them, but they've told me that there's nothing they can do, and that I have to be there on Monday, or get a doctor's note.
!

What do I do? Help!!

[flowerybeanbag]

crochetdiva as long as you give 8 weeks' notice you can change your return date as you have done. It's not your fault your manager didn't pass the message to HR if they need to know.

I'm not sure what they mean by there's 'nothing they can do' . They don't need to do anything - you have notified your manager of your return date, she is expecting you back to work on Friday, so just go in then. They can't ask you for a sick note, you are not sick, you are on maternity leave and have given the correct notice accordingly.

What it presumably means is they have put you back on the payroll from Monday, so that will be wrong. Which is fine, there is time to amend that before pay day, and even if there isn't, they can adjust next month if need be.

There's no point turning up on Monday if your manager isn't expecting you til Friday anyway - it will muck her plans up.

If you still have the email you sent your manager and the reply she sent acknowledging it, forward that to HR, copying in your manager.

Has your manager spoken to HR for you?

[crochetdiva]

Thanks flowerybeanbag - my manager isn't in today, so I can't ask her what she's done about it - I don't even know if she is actually expecting me on Monday or not!

It is reassuring to know that I won't get into trouble if I don't go back on Monday.

What a cock-up!

I shall foward the email on to HR though.

[FloriaTosca]

Oh Crotchet!!!
Just what you need right now!
I agree with flowerybeanbag that HR are just being either lazy or jobsworths (I'm no expert as I've not been "employed" by anyone for years but remember similar problems occurring when I was an employee)...do forward the email to HR...your manager wrote the email agreeing to your return on Friday so she can't be expecting you on Monday.... but knowing that you are on abs and (I assume) are still being monitored by your GP, then, just for your peace of mind, why not get a sick note to double cover you until next Friday?
Enjoy your week with R & M

[flowerybeanbag]

Have to say I disagree about getting a sick note anyway - I think that would confuse the issue. Either you are on maternity leave or you are back at work/off sick. You have formally notified them you'll be back on Friday giving the correct notice, and again confirmed by phone so if you then present them with a medical certificate you would then be changing your mind again and going back (if not physically there) on Monday.

I'd stick to what you've already said tbh.

[crochetdiva]

Thank goodness for MN!

I've (finally) got some sense out of HR - and I have just had a very apologetic phone call from them apologising for the mix up, and telling me that it's all sorted, and that I am expected in work next Friday ...

Thank you for your help flowerybeanbag ... and for your support FT!

[FloriaTosca]

glad everything is sorted...now you can properly enjoy your last week of mat leave...have fun.

[alicet]

Glad everything sorted Crochet! And good luck for Friday if I don't see you before then x