Mat leave - this is cheeky right?

[RidingSixWhiteHorses]

So my boss sent me a few work queries this week even though I have started mat leave (baby due next week) but I didn't mind as I was only person who would know the answer and she texted first to check it was convenient and I didn't mind. Answered the queries and that was it.

Then another colleague emailed today asking if I could read a document and give a second opinion. This was something anyone could do and they are not my boss and they sent to my personal account as well as my work account which is how I saw it as am consciously no longer checking work emails or so I am pretending .

Anyway is it just me or is that incredibly cheeky? I just replied saying sorry but am not doing any work now as am on mat leave and have to draw line somewhere. Not heard back from her. She has a kid aged 3 so not like she's not had a mat leave herself and we are not chief exec level or anything.

[MyNameIsSuz]

That is really cheeky! I might let the boss know what's happened, they might have accidentally given the others the impression it's ok...

[SoontobeMommyof2]

Some people are so insensitive!! I work for a big company but directly report to my Dad. I've been explaining someone needed to train in my work.. they did nothing except him have me train him for 2hours. So second day on maternity leave..due in a week and really need to rest now. Having endless calls and he is visiting asking queations. Now do I tell him to do one and upset the family or go behind his back to our usless HR department and hope it can be sorted. I can't do this when I'm in hospital

If it's a big enough company I would go to HR and explain you need the break. They are not meant to contact people really on maternity leave x

[CoffeeAndOranges]

Stick an out of office on your emails and ignore! I have already got a 'warning' out of office on my work email and I don't finish work till next week. I'm buggered if I'm going to be working after that, beyond the odd 'coffee, where did you put xxx?' type query.

Mind you I'm only an office minion so not paid enough to work outside of office hours!

[AbbeyRoadCrossing]

Not only is it cheeky you are also risking losing your maternity pay. Even checking a document for half an hour should be counted and paid as a keeping in touch day. Be very careful with doing this as working can bring your maternity pay to an end.

[blibblobblub]

Super cheeky. I think you were too nice in replying tbh, I'd have been tempted to just ignore it!

[AbbeyRoadCrossing]

www.maternityaction.org.uk/wp/advice-2/mums-dads-scenarios/pregnant/keeping-in-touch-days/

[Junosmum]

A few years ago a woman took her employer to court as the person covering her maternity leave emailed her loads about work. She won. So this is definitely not ok!

[RNBrie]

Just stop responding to emails. Seriously. I checked mine less than once a month when I was on Mat Leave. Everyone always thinks their thing is most important and that you won't mind.

If you're worried about not replying at all then wait 3-4 days and reply saying you've only just seen it and it's probably best to ask people in the office to do the work from now on.