Multiple maternity leaves... Would you be annoyed with your colleague?

[ChikiTIKI]

I started working somewhere in 2016 and am just finishing up my second maternity leave since starting there.

If you were a colleague or manager of mine would you be annoyed that I had taken this time off?

And if I took a third and final maternity leave any time soon... Would you be furious?

No, I couldn't care less what you do.

Not necessarily. My friend has had two maternity leaves and she works harder than anyone on the team. The boss appreciates her no end.

Not only would I not be bothered, I'd defend you if I heard anyone criticising your decision.

On your deathbed would you really give a toss what colleagues had thought about your decision?

No.

Work to live not live to work.

None of us are getting out of here alive so if you are having another baby then go for it.

No, and it would be unreasonable and discriminatory of me if I did.

Not at all
Always glad when intelligent decent people have children. Go for it!

I wouldn't give a shot.
I'd be furious with management if they didn't ensure they had staff to cover and as a result I ended up with your work.

Not at all and I'd feel strongly enough to defend you if I heard anyone being shitty.

Some people probably would feel annoyed, but then they tend to also have awful views that are accepting of sex discrimination and maternity discrimination in the workplace too.

At least you'll have a bump and baby to prove you are not taking the piss, unlike some colleagues past and present...
(cue cries of not all illnesses are visible!)

No. I would be a hypocrite if I did. I've had 3 lots of maternity. If kids are 2 years apart, its basically 1 year on, 1 year off for 6 years.

As long as you do your job when you are there, that's all I would want. Plus pictures of your baby.

🙄 shit

You have every right to do so. However, I’ve worked for companies where women have done this and the firm hasn’t had the money or inclination to provide cover and the remaining staff have had to pick up the slack which is a bit frustrating. I’ve also invested in new staff who have taken maternity and not come back, again totally their right but frustrating. In my opinion it’s things like this that mean that women are more discriminated against and why I personally think parents should be made to take six months each. I do want to reiterate it is absolutely your right to do this, and you shouldn’t have any qualms about doing so.

Furious is a bit strong but 3 mat leaves in 5 years would seem a lot to me and it would get clear your priority wasn’t the company / your career at that time. Before anyone piles on, that’s obviously a personal choice to make, and not one that’s wrong, but I wouldn’t expect to be ‘employee of the year’.

I'd be happy for you! Wouldn't mind about work at all, it's just a job, and if anyone said anything I'd give them what for.

*make clear

Not in the slightest. It's perfectly normal for women to have children in fairly quick succession. One of my colleagues came back to work visibly pregnant, we were all delighted for her as she'd struggled to conceive the first.

Life before work!! Definitely!!

But I will say... Colleague did this in my school. Caused untold staffing issues and extra work for lots of people as she came back pregnant twice but didn’t tell anyone until the cut off for telling the head (literally the last day) by which time the next sch year had started and her classes had to have new teachers recruited etc ...she did this twice.
So just tell your employers before you’re in that position!!!

This happened at my old workplace. I didn't resent her, but I did resent the situation it left the small team in because there was no replacement and it was very obvious our work increased by 10% each. That was an issue for my employer though, not her.

You are totally entitled to your maternity leave, and to take it without guilt.

As a PP said, it is for your boss to ensure your
role is covered in a way that limits impact on the team. The impact of you taking mutiple maternity leaves should be minimal if the process is well managed. It is not down to you but down to the team management.

but I wouldn’t expect to be ‘employee of the year’.

I’ve had three maternity leaves of at least a year since joining my current workplace in 2013 (first pregnancy a month after starting). I’ve been awarded special performance-related bonuses while on mat leave twice for work done before I left! They recognise their maternity pay is not great and value my contributions to the team.

Wow I'm glad to see that nobody would be annoyed with me! That's good to know. When I was pregnant the second time I did get a couple of negative comments. I think they were annoyed because I was pregnant when I started the new role (took over a year to get pregnant, must have got pregnant the day before the interview and obviously didn't know until after accepting the role).

I am a very hard worker (aren't we all!) and work very hard at my regular duties as well as always finding ways to improve processes, build relationships etc. I am useful when I am around. I suppose if I have a third child soon or wait a year or two... It doesn't really make much difference does it.

I am quite happy to work at this place for many years to come. I love the role that I am in and feel like I can make a difference there.

It depends really. Small businesses can collapse if the owner is repeatedly having to hire more cover staff. I’d probably be more annoyed with the situation than you personally. It’s one of the shitty reasons why men are more likely to be hired for jobs in some cases

No I wouldn’t. My work are absolutely crap at getting maternity cover arranged, one colleague went on leave in August and her cover didn’t start until January this year. But it has never, ever made me resent colleagues for taking mat leave, it’s not their fault HR are shite!

I would wait a bit for #3 anyway. I wish I had as it would've given me more time to make middle child feel special.

Yes.
Starting the job pregnant, then 3 maternity leaves in 5 years?
I wouldn’t say anything but internally I would be pissed. Constant agency/temp cover affects a workplaces productivity.