How involved should you be in your maternity cover arrangements?

[lightsandshapes]

Work have been fab about the pregnancy, but a 'side manager' (not my direct line manager) is starting to stress about cover arrangements (at 'short notice') as he calls it. He has now written a 'pushy' email to my direct line manager asking him what cover he is planning for when I leave in August and when he is going to arrange it (he is on the case).

I was copied in to the email, alongside a member of the senior management (who in my opinion he didn't need to email as my 'direct' manager will be sorting this).

My question is - how involved have you been in arrangements for maternity cover?

I think my 'side manager' / colleauge is being slightly unprofessional TBH....

[jenga079]

I'm a teacher and a bit of a control freak and will be working till the end of term and then off for most of next year. My replacement for the 'teaching' bit of my job has already been appointed and I had no involvement at all in her recruitment. She will start in sept with a brand new timetable and will be well supported by the rest of the department so i'm not expecting to have much - if any - contact with her. If I was leaving part way through the year I would have left notes about my classes to help her, but wouldn't have expected any input in who was appointed etc as this is clearly the headteacher's decision.

I'm also a head of department and will be leaving a few sides of A4 'top tips' for whoever covers that bit of my job (this is where the control freak bit comes in!) as I think it's my responsibility to help ensure the department runs smoothly in my absence, but -again- I won't expect any say in who actually does the job (it will be an internal appointment)

I have to be honest and say the manager sounds like he is being professional, you will presumably find it easier to 'switch off' if your replacement has been appointed & briefed before you plan to leave. I'd try to support him, even if his choice of words is a bit off!

[Queenofthehill]

I was involved the whole way through - placing advert, interviewing, shortlisting, handover. The ultimate decision wasn't mine, but I felt consulted throughout. I am confident at my cover's ability to do the job and am glad I had such a strong input.

[Eglu]

I helped shortlist for the interview for mine this time, but I don't think that it is anything to do with me really.

[Littlefish]

I interviewed all the candidates for my maternity cover, but only because I was the deputy head, not because I was the one leaving.

[nancerama]

My boss decided not to arrange maternity cover, so I am now raking regular phonecalls and emails from his PA with annoying questions. If it carries on, I shall be invoicing them for my time.

[DomesticGoddess31]

its not really your problem IMO...its the managers job to ensure he has the staff he needs, thats what he gets paid for. Don't let it worry you.

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

I was involved the whole way through last time, from advertising to interviewing to choosing and training. I did resent it a bit tbh. I was very wound up anyway and could have done without the added stress of it all.

This time I have a new control freak boss so am unlikely to be consulted, praise be.

[Panzee]

I was not involved in the slightest. It suited me just fine. I had other priorities by then! :)

[theonlyhb2]

I organised it from the get go, pushed to get a permanent new member of staff as we already have too much work, did all the interviewing etc and now in the process of basically re-organising and allocating work.....but then I am the manager!

But I would anyway as I don't want to come back to my job in a state, but then maybe its just the sort of job I have, if I worked in a call centre or a massive company then I wouldn't care.

[CitizenOscar]

My manager & I dealt with it all together (plus a bit of input from HR) but I was clear that ultimately it was my manager's decision/responsibility, since he's the one who'd have to work with whoever we chose. We interviewed together, I dealt with the handover & I think we're pretty happy with the outcome. I intend to leave them to it from now on!

[lightsandshapes]

thanks for these - a wide variety / variation which is good to see in a way that there is no set route. I'm glad they are 'consulting' me. Jenga - you're right - I will be able to switch off once they have someone, so I guess I should just thrash it out between them. It was just the fact that my side manager was getting stressed was making me feel somehow responsible. But baby comes first so I'm not going to go down that line of thought! I am also in education (but HE) and plan to do some handover notes as it's a job where there's some continuity.

nanacerama can they do that?? That sounds like they are taking advantage. On my notes it says that my employers are allowed to make 'reasonable contact' but not badger about everyday things.

[Camerondiazepam]

Theonlyhb2 - that's how I felt, much sooner know I'd not be coming back to a total mess. Of course, OP, if you're not planning to go back, I say fuck 'em, they can do it themselves! And be flattered that side manager is deeply concerned about you going, you must be doing something right!

[TransatlanticCityGirl]

I was not involved in the selection of my cover (and happy about that!) but I did have chats with prospective candidates who approached me to find out more about the role. My cover was announced about 5-6 weeks before my mat leave was due to start and we spend a lot of time together on handover - we are both totally in control of that and manager just leaves us to sort it out.
I think your side manager is right to be on top of things but has approached it in totally the wrong way. A chat with your manager would suffice. It's ultimately your manager's responsibility.