Need some advice please. Returning to work after Matt leave.

[returntowork13]

So I have had two maternity leaves back to back. I am due to return to work next month which I was really looking forward to. Child minder and everything in place. Popped into work last week to discuss my return and said I’m happy to come back on my original two days a week for a while to let the babies settle before taking on any extra hours. All of this she agreed to and said would go away and discuss with HR and let me know a start date.

Now while I have been off there has been a lot of changes, the working hours have changed and there is no more flexible hours. I have received an email this morning saying they are looking forward to my return but my old position is no longer a position and to return I would need to go full time with the hours 7am to 4pm (I was 8:30-5 previously) now I am struggling to understand how any one with children can start a working day at 7am, the childminder doesn’t start until 7:30 and then I would need to get to work, 30 min drive. But regardless of that don’t they have to offer me my old hours?

i have worked there for 5 years before my mat leave started.

if anyone has any advice I would be hugely grateful. 🙏

This is part of the email received.

What does your contract say about your previous hours?

I would ultimately ring ACAS for advice. I rang them about an issue during my mat leave and they were helpful, and the wait wasn’t too long.

However my understanding is that as you’ve been away for a certain amount of time, they are under no obligation to give you the same role.

I also believe they can determine within reason what hours are needed. I was looking at reducing my own role and i was told that i could reduce it to 4 days, but due to the nature of the job, if i wanted 3 days, they could look at transferring me internally to a different role.

It also depends what your contract says about your hours and what type of contract you have.

Also do you have a partner who could do drop off if you started work earlier?

I start work at 8 so my DH does drop off and I do pick up.

Did you go back to work after the first mat leave?

If they’ve restructured I’m not sure they do have to offer your original job back, especially if you didn’t return after mat leave 1, or took more time off than 6 months? They have to offer you a similar job but not your original job back

Thank you, I will have a look at my contract. It’s just so frustrating that she agreed in person and then comes back with this. Just wasn’t expecting it that’s all. I didn’t go back to work between I had accrued lots of holiday which was used instead of returning. That was their suggestion.

I do have a DH but he leaves the house at 4:30 every morning so no help there.

I think I know I’m not entitled I was just looking forward to returning, oh well looks like it’s time for a change.

Sounds like they are consulting on a restructuring of everyone’s hours?