Stressing about my maternity cover...

[Pagetta]

So I work in a role where i'm the only person that does my job. It's in a pretty new comms team, and covers a really broad range of activity as we are a small team.
Over the last 18 months in the role i've made a lot of changes, made some real progress in our new department and also launched a new software system and generally done pretty well with things (from feedback - sorry if that sounds a bit up myself - not supposed to! i've worked bloody hard here!)
My mat cover has started but its really stressing me out.
On the one hand I'm totally ready to finish work and pass the baton over and relax for a few weeks.
On the other I am totally worried that she isn't doing a great job, and is going to drop a lot of balls while i'm off for 12 months.
My boss was adamant which areas and skills in my role he wanted to prioritize when recruiting, but that leaves some big skills gaps which she is struggling to pick up. She's also struggling with the work load while i'm still here, so i dread to think how she'll be when i'm gone!
I've got two weeks left at work, and i know my boss is a bit stressed about me going.
Everyone keeps saying 'just forget it, its not important now, you've got bigger things to worry about' - but i have every intention of coming back in 12 months! I don't want things in a sorry state by then!
It doesn't help that last time i returned to work i was made redundant within three months, so i'm extremely paranoid about taking mat leave again.

Side note: i know its possible that its my hormones making me more stressed and emotional than normal.

I guess i'm just looking for some reassurance about things - or maybe a virtual kick up the arse to stop stressing!

[noblegiraffe]

Not your problem.

If things are crap when you get back then you'll have to sort it but that's not a given so no point in worrying.

Worse would be an awesome maternity cover so they don't want you to come back!

[Pagetta]

lol thanks yes - this is what hubby keeps saying - that is basically what happened last time!
My boss left while i was off, new boss started and adored my maternity cover. kept him on...i got made redundant (longer story than that but in a nutshell...) I'm trying to keep that in mind!

[FoxgloveStar]

I understand. There isn't much you can do. You might have to come back to a mess. Just try to put work out of your mind, for now.

[skankingpiglet]

I'd also say not your problem. Do everything you can to equip your cover with everything they need and then step away and forget about it. Even if your cover is you cloned, things will be somewhat different when you return as a year is a long time, so it just isn't worth stressing about.
As for you cover, cut them a bit of slack. They are new in a role and it always takes time to find your feet and learn the 'processes' of your new company. Plus (and I don't mean to be harsh here) you are possibly expecting them to do things exactly your way, rather than giving them space to figure out their own route to the same destination? It sounds like you very much think of your role as your baby so want your work patterns followed closely, and not everyone works in the same way.

[Pagetta]

Thanks for the replies - not harsh I sort of needed to hear it! DH exasperated with my work stress and he just wants me to step back - but I feel he 'just doesn't get it' - so it helps to hear it from others too lol.
You're all right - just hard to let go!
2 weeks left to slog - will make vested effort to try and relax about it :-p

[trilbydoll]

I've been back at work a month and everyone was pleased to see me. You don't want an awesome cover

[Beansprout30]

I'm feeling a bit like this at the moment, but more so because I worry about what position im going to be in when I return, they've basically said my cover will be staying on anyway but I know there isn't enough work for all of us. Going to try and take a step back and just take the attitude of what will be, will be, but it's hard not to worry

[MrPoppersPenguins]

I know exactly how you're feeling... I'm worrying about this for a pregnancy we're hoping for but hasn't even been conceived yet!! (My "replacement" will come from within my current team). To be honest with my first pregnancy I didn't have as much responsibility so wasn't as worried but I'm a bit of a control freak so still worried about what would happen when I wasn't there... The minute the baby arrived- boom- I was so overwhelmed with baby issues/tiredness etc I didn't even think about what was happening at work! And then I blinked, then I was back at work!!