Calling all HR people....

I work in IT. People on maternity leave with IT equipment are a PITA security wise as they mostly never switch it on and then the machine is not up to date with security updates. If they extend maternity leave then that can be for a long time and the machine is constantly flagged as exception etc. This is then picked up in audit and we are then left trying to contact people to get them to update their machine and they don't want to be contacted or bothered ( understandably). Then they come back to work and it's a mess on the first day trying to get everything up to date, passwords reset etc. Much easier to get them a New machine and start with that.

Payslips etc can be accessed on any machine and incidentally I'd always.have them on a private machine because you don't want to resign or leave and have no payslips. Our company email can be accessed also on personal machine but I know that's not always the case.

So I'd say this is not unusual, if you feel very strongly then I believe you can insist you keep your.machine during your standard mat leave but any AML they are entitled to ask for it back.

The company I work for asks for equipment back, they are constantly upgrading the security so there is a high risk if The equipment is not turned on regularly that it will either become a security risk or incompatible with other systems.

Have you asked about other ways to access your payslips and benefits?

They will send you your pauslips through the post. Your benefits tend to roll over at whatever levels you're on until you come back - worth checking that.
When you come back to work you can then select benefits out of the usual window as you've had a "life event" - Ie like you're a new starter.

If they wanted to stay on the right side of discrimination laws then they'd have to. But either way, these are the adjustments they'd have to put in place if they want their equipment back, which they're entitled to.

Her employer can send any internal roles to her personal email address

^

Yes, but would they?

You also wouldn't see internal promotions/job adverts

Her employer can send any internal roles to her personal email address, which is a standard adjustment and can provide printed payslips (or sent to personal email also).

What sort of "data breach laws" are you picturing here? The phone and laptop are company property so there should be none of the OP's personal data on it anyway, but the company can give the laptop to another employee if they wish.

Do a little digging!

Hi @pinkpepperclove

firstjy, you should be able to access everything I.e. any internal roles advertised, have some access to payslips etc.
it seems entirely unfair what your boss is doing and he/she may just be very paranoid/incompetent.

speak to ACAS - get advice.
speak to your HR.

it’s likely you won’t even access anything but access should not be taken away, you’re still an employee.

is the issue that the cover for you will need your laptop? Because I’m sure that would breach some data laws.. best thing to do is chat to HR and ACAS.

I had an incompetent manager once upon a time and he had to be educated on a fair few things. You wonder how these people become managers in the first place.

We ask for equipment while on maternity. We have to pay for equipment (including phones and laptops) out of dept budget. When someone is on maternity their mat cover needs equipment so they use the laptop and phone of the person on maternity leave. It’s role equipment rather than individual’s equipment.

we can access pay slips on an app though and Kit days you’d be provided with a generic laptop that the organisation uses for interviews or emergencies if someone breaks and there’s a gap purchasing.

Our company always looked for it back citing security reasons .

Not HR but preparing for someone about to go on mat leave in my team.

IT have agreed to her keeping her laptop. Everyone else I know has handed it back in though.

I, however, have asked she hands her work mobile phone back so that we can make sure her cover can pick up any calls. That's more for continuity and safeguarding, as well as it being of no benefit to her whilst on leave.

https://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/article/1741340/benefits-bonuses-women-maternity-leave

some advice here .....

Have they taken laptops from anyone else while out on maternity? Do they take them from someone off on long-term sick?

Do you work from home OP? Or hybrid?

I gave my work laptop to the person covering my mat leave to use while I was on leave. I got a better one when I came back. However , I didn't need it to do anything while I was on leave, so the situation was a bit different.

I worked in HR for years and never came across this. They legally have to provide you with payslips, so they need to find a solution to that for starters. Do they want to give your equipment to your maternity cover? What is the actual reason given for wanting the return? Or are they just sticking to "we need it back"? With no policy in place regarding this and with you not being able to access KIT days and benefits plus payslips, I would say you will end up winning this one.
As a now business owner, I wouldn't ask an employee to return their equipment for maternity leave.

I’ve known company’s take kit back, for Information Security issues. If your kit isn’t regularly being used it can miss critical updates.

At the end of the day it’s not your kit, it belongs to the company. As a company asset, they can decide where it is best kept.

However, they need to ensure that you do not miss out on any information you may need, whilst you are off.

Do not conflate the two things

Do you have a wfh contract? If not, it’s reasonable for them to expect you to go into the office to access the benefits and information you require.

They can post you payslips and you need to agree KIT with your manager.