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Pregnancy

My boss is a b*****d

32 replies

Tippytoes · 23/10/2006 10:20

Am into my 6th week of pregnancy and have told my boss as he was expecting me to do lifting of boxes etc.

Well, he is not very happy at all - says its very inconvenient for the office and its all right the government giving women all these rights etc etc, but what about businesses? Anyway he went on and on and on and is even talking about who is going to get to replace me, even though I have said I will be coming back. He says he would NEVER employ anyone of child bearing age ever again. This is my second child and had 5 months off 5 years ago with my last one.

We had talked previously that if I had another child I would like to come back to work part-time and he said we would discuss when it happened and so didn't say no. I work with another lady who is part time (I am full at the moment) and we think we could do the work there if between us both doing part time. I twiddle my thumbs half the time at present.

He was annoyed because another member of staff left a couple of years ago after she was due to come back after maternity leave and he called her a 'bitch' for doing that to the company!!!

So I recon that now he won't let me have part time just to be awkward, but in that case I will have to come back full time and then leave as soon as I find part time work. Wonder if I will be a 'bitch' then!

What would you all do if you had to work with someone with this attitude?

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QuootieSpookypie · 23/10/2006 10:24

report them? He sounds a pig... surely if you go down to part time, thats the mat. pay you'll get? If he refuses to change your work, get signed off sick.

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Tippytoes · 23/10/2006 10:25

I would only want part-time after maternity leave, but would consider coming back full time if I had to and would then have to look for another job part time

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Tippytoes · 23/10/2006 10:35

bump

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Flamebat · 23/10/2006 10:36

I would try and get another job lined up for after maternity leave, store up some holiday, so you can hand in your notice on your first day back, and swan off with the holiday leave

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Tippytoes · 23/10/2006 10:39

I thought about doing that, as he would like to line someone up for my job as he said and then I would come back and then leave, leaving him with nobody. Now that would be nice after the way he has been with me!

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twocatsonthebed · 23/10/2006 10:40

He's just being an arse rather than being illegal, but that doesn't make it a lot of fun for you.

If that was me (and it sort of was, as I stuck a job I wasn't particularly happy with all through my pregnancy) I would just keep my head down and put up with it for now, and not say anything about part time/coming back until much further down the line. He may have recovered from at least some of his attitude by then.

And tbh (and you could point this out when he's in a better mood) it's in his interest - if you and your other colleague can do all the work as two part timers, then he saves money. What's not to like about that?

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Tippytoes · 23/10/2006 10:42

There isn't anything to like about us both doing part time, like you say twocatsonthebed, he will save money and still get the work done. But the problem is he likes to be in control and the one controlling everything. If this wasn't his idea, its not a good one. So because this is our idea, its probably a no-go.

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rubles · 23/10/2006 10:44

I am really no employment lawyer, but is there not some obligation that an employer has to meet to seriously look into whether a p/t position could be found for women returning from maternity leave?
If so, then maybe you could use the coming months to put together a detailed plan for your boss, showing how you could do the same work as at present but on a job share basis with this other woman. He surely can't complain if you are saying you can realistically do the same work but in less time??

Although he sounds like a complete pig and it might give you satisfaction to hand in your notice and waltz off, won't it be more difficult to find p/t work with a new company? (I don't know your job, so maybe not. It would be for me.)

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expatinscotland · 23/10/2006 10:45

I get sick of all this 'what about small business' stuff.

Can't afford it? You can't afford to be in business.

Get over it!

I'd quit and temp.

that's what I did when I fell pregnant w/DD1 and had the childless female boss from HELL.

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Tippytoes · 23/10/2006 10:49

This may sound daft, but I don't want to quit and miss out on the maternity pay, can't really afford to.

Its not as if this business is small overall - yes this office it, but its part of a much bigger organisation. Think its the inconvenience rather than the cost.

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QuootieSpookypie · 23/10/2006 10:56

get signed off when you are still full-time, then when mat. leave kicks in, you get full time wage, rather than part. But if its only part you want when going back, they have to legally seriously condsider it.

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expatinscotland · 23/10/2006 10:57

GREAT idea, spooky!

Hadn't thought of that.

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VeniVidiVickiQV · 23/10/2006 11:04

Tippytoes - i would strongly suggest keeping a diary of all these comments and incidents.

Your boss is NOT allowed to say this things to you. It is classed as discrimination and as such a tribunal would frown on this - even if he did not action any of the things he said - because it is classed as bullying. Keep a diary, take notes, 4 weeks before you return from maternity leave - make your flexible working request - giving lots of detail as to how it could work - and some compromises to that option too.

If he refuses you unreasonably, you can make a claim for unfair dismissal, and sex discrimination. I would however, strongly suggest you stick it out until you go on maternity leave, and look for another job for when you are due to return.

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VeniVidiVickiQV · 23/10/2006 11:04

Tippytoes - i would strongly suggest keeping a diary of all these comments and incidents.

Your boss is NOT allowed to say this things to you. It is classed as discrimination and as such a tribunal would frown on this - even if he did not action any of the things he said - because it is classed as bullying. Keep a diary, take notes, 4 weeks before you return from maternity leave - make your flexible working request - giving lots of detail as to how it could work - and some compromises to that option too.

If he refuses you unreasonably, you can make a claim for unfair dismissal, and sex discrimination. I would however, strongly suggest you stick it out until you go on maternity leave, and look for another job for when you are due to return.

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squigglesmum · 23/10/2006 11:05

I had a similar boss, ended up being made redundant, but that's a different story. Unless the situation has changed in the last few years, if you are running a small business, then the government actually refunds you something like 104% of all standard maternity pay which is given to an employee, to cover admin costs etc, so he's got NOTHING to complain about (other than perhaps the inconvenience of finding cover for you while you're off on mat leave).
From my experience, get a little notebook and write everything he says down, no matter how trivial, date it (maybe even get your colleague to sign it too if she's overheard and is willing to stick up for you). You may not need it, but it might be useful to have.
Make all your proposals to him re part-timing in writing too.
You can get info about how maternity pay works on one of the government websites, if I get a chance I'll look it up for you.

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squigglesmum · 23/10/2006 11:05

sorry, cross posted re diary.

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VeniVidiVickiQV · 23/10/2006 11:07

They can make your mat leave start 11 weeks before your EDD if you do that though, btw.

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ludaloo · 23/10/2006 11:07

God...you must have the same boss I did! Arse holes!!!!!!!!!!
I left for good...and loved watching his face as I told him!
Its just so uncalled for isn't it!

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Tippytoes · 23/10/2006 11:10

Great, thank you for the ideas. I will definately type up now some notes of what was said on Friday, just in case I need it in the future.

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Plibble · 23/10/2006 11:10

There is a legal right to request to work flexibly (e.g. to go part time) if you have children. Your employer has a duty to consider an application seriously. The DTI website is helpful, see here .
I assume (but am not 100% certain) that it is the same in Scotland.

I would put in an application in writing, giving full details of how it could work. You might also suggest to your employer that you try p/t for a trial period (e.g. 6 months), as it is pretty hard for employers to turn this down without being unreasonable. If you can, include HR in any discussions as they are likely to be more clued up on the company's obligations to you than your boss, who sounds like a bit of an arse, frankly.

Good luck!

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Tippytoes · 23/10/2006 11:14

Yes the word 'Arse Hole' does spring to mind!!

To make it worse, this guy is usually quite a good friend of mine and we have even been out with my DH and his DW socially.

But he is a very complex bloke and its easier to stay friends then say anything to upset him and get the flip side of the coin, because he can make my life in work miserable.

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squigglesmum · 23/10/2006 11:27

this page gives details of what you're due

and this one gives info for employers .

There's loads of info to read, but it can be useful to be informed so you can challenge anything your boss says like "it's going to cost the business a fortune"

Thought it might be useful to past this bit in (it's from the linked website)

Recovering Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) and Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP)
How much do I get back?

The amount you get back depends on your total gross, employers? plus employees?, Class 1 National Insurance contributions in the appropriate tax year. You can use your form P35, Employer Annual Return, as a quick check of this.

  • Extract from P35 (PDF 267K)
  • See a further extract of form P35

    If your annual liability for Class 1 National Insurance contributions is £45,000 or less you are entitled to

  • 100% of the Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)/Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP), and
  • an additional amount as compensation for the NICs you pay on the SMP/SPP. The compensation rate for payments made on or after 6 April 2006 is 4.5%.

    Add together all payments of SMP/SPP made in the same tax months for which you are entitled to recover and calculate 100% plus 4.5% of that total figure.

    If your annual liability for Class 1 National Insurance contributions is more than £45,000 you are entitled to

  • 92% of the SMP/SPP.



    HTH.
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Tippytoes · 23/10/2006 11:58

Thank you for your post squigglesmum - I will have a look at those links now. Very helpful.

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Tortington · 23/10/2006 12:03

if its part of a larger organisation i would make enquiries at HR regarding this issue - so they know - you know iykwim? and also enquire about a grievence proceedure.


did i read it right - he openly called you a bitch?

i would formalise everything if it were me. the business will be further screwed if you sue them for constructive dismissal.

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disemboweledbint · 23/10/2006 12:05

what's your boss's boss like? i would seriously consider the formal grievance route.

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