To go back to work for 3 months just to get occupational maternity allowance?

[Cursingtheboobytum]

This is a more of a what would you do (and I mean really do?).

I am on maternity leave and by chance am pregnant again. My company maternity policy allows two consecutive periods of maternity leave and the right to return if not to the same job then to one with the same terms and conditions.

When I originally went on maternity leave I didn't think it likely that I would go back. Because of this I took only statutory maternity allowance with an agreement that if I were to go back I would then be paid occupational maternity allowance. Now I am pregnant again and by co-incidence my next period of maternity leave can start on the day I was due to return (how's that for planning !)

I told my boss in January that I was now living in another country and barring everything going tits up I would most definately not be returning but that I would formally confirm this as late as possible (can't be to careful in this current economic climate and who knows what's going to happen? is my philosophy). So now whilst I still want to keep my options open about returning I could strategically decide to return for three months (the minimum period to qualify for occ mat allowance) but do it knowing that the day I returned I would hand in my notice (the notice period for my job being three months).

My husband has said that he and I could move back to the UK on a temporary basis for the three months period and he could work remotely. Childcare would not be a problem as I could book places now at the company nursery. The money in question is a considerable sum for us and is equal to about 2/3 of my annual salary. In short we would be quids in and who knows when I would next get a job with two sprogs to look after and in a country where I don't yet speak the lingo.

So for those of you who have kept up the questions are:

1.) Would I be unreasonable to do this? (and if I did should I warn the company before I go back what I intend to do so that they can consider whether they want to accommodate me for three months or maybe consider just coughing up?)
2.) What would you do if you were me?

I should add that I have worked for the company for quite a few years but was in the current role for only 6 months before going on maternity. I'm pretty sure if I did go back they would have to find something else for me to do and would be royally pissed off if I handed my notice in on the same day I returned...

Thanks for reading. Be kind to me, I'm not usually so grasping.

It depends how much you like them and whether your related to work there with them potentially pissed off with you. My colleague has done this and whilst I don't care she has ruffled alot of feathers.

Well I had a bit of a bad time in a previous role with the head of department and was rather annoyed that it was never resolved but the people in this new department are all extremely lovely. I'd find it difficult to face them on a day to day basis. But I could end up in a completely different department just to accommodate a return. hmmmmmm...

It's not uncommon, do have a good enough relationship with your manager that you could tell them your plans?

Obviously you have an entitlement to the money if you go in (I assume that's payable if you go in for one day - there's no retention period or clawback?), but in all honesty I don't know that I would have the... I don't know, the gall?... to do it. It wouldn't feel great and I am fond of my squeaky clean soul. BUT if you go in it's not as if they won't be getting anything. There'll be three months of your (only mildly distracted) work for a start, and they can defer paying an agent to find a permanent replacement for a bit. Perhaps I would think about how big the team is: can they accomopdate someone coming and going without it being horribly disruptive? That might figure in my decision.

Not sure what I'd do though (can you tell?)!

Thanks RancerDoo, you're where I am - really not sure! I'm not sure I have the barefaced cheek...

My role was part of a bigger team, but I was the only one that did what I did. I happen to know that they are employing an assistance for the role as well now. It sort of feels that if I do tell them I'm returning I should tell them my plans upfront. But to have the nerve - not sure that I do...

UnfitMother - I have a great relationship with my manager. It's everybody else I worry about. I have a very clean soul too like RancerDoo. But its a huge wodge of dosh all at once.

I really don't know what i'd do.

Tricky one.

I would be wondering how easily I could be sacked.... eg my old workplace had the right to fire you for sending one personal email or surfing web for private use. Never, ever used but always an option. Could you afford lawyers to get them to pay up if they witheld payment?

I can see why you're getting splinters!!

I think it's a pretty rubbish thing to do but (as I keep getting told) you need to look out for number one (you) because no one else will!

I have been turning down jobs that want someone long term when I know I can't do that (personal reasons mean it would have to be short term or long term with a big gap later in the year, which isn't really do-able)... yes it's the 'right' thing to do, but it's not paying the bloody bills. I don't regret it in that I can hold my head up - on the other hand things are very tight because I have. The thing that makes me so resolute is that it affects other peoples personal lives (a lot!!) whereas if it was an office job I may have caved in before now.

PicaK - that sounds like a fun place to work

Ooh that is really hard. I don't know if I could do it but you're leaving the country it might make it a bit easier! I don't know whether I would tell the manager before or not - it's pretty likely to be a fairly hostile work environment if you do go ahead with it. I know it shouldn't make a difference but is it a small or large company? I could perhaps ease my conscience a bit if I knew it was a big company that paying an additional OMP on top wouldn't hurt them but if it was a smallish company with not that many employees it may make me reconsider.

Can you tell from the waffling that I can't quite decide??

I suspect the agonising over this is a female condition, so I have asked my DH.

He says they are not going to like it, but if you're sure you are not going to need them in future (reference aside, since these are so bland these days) then go for it. He doesn't understand though why you would resign on day one, and neither do I. Since you're going on mat leave anyway, presumably you could delay that until you've gone on leave (thus requiring less nerve, perhaps)!

www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1383915/The-Apprentices-Karren-Brady-hits-Lord-Alan-Sugar-motherhood-workplace.html

She might act as Lord Alan Sugar?s assistant on The Apprentice but Karren Brady has slammed his view of motherhood within the workplace.

Brady hit out at Lord Sugar?s suggestion that women should tell future employers in job interviews if they want to have children.

The mother-of-two, who went back to work three days after her first child, and multimillionaire businesswoman said she sees ?no problems? working while having a family.

I'm afraid some people are career driven just as some suffer more in childbirth than others.  Personally with Child 1 I couldnt wait to get back to work (Went on maternity leave the day he was due, and he had the decency to pop out on his due date, went back 6 weeks later) - with Child 2 I was enforced to have full maternity leave due to complications.  That did not sit well with me. I dislike being idle.

That will cue the comments "why have children?" <strong>simples</strong> not my idea at all but as it was biologically impossible for my husband to have them that duty fell to me.

Plus I'm of the generation who, allegedly "could have it all".... work/play/motherhood.

In reality - that was balls. All it did was cause a generation of disaffected women who couldn't 'have it all' and either ended up resenting having to work or having to having to have children to conform to society ideals.


Meanwhile - back to the OP - morally you are wrong.  IF you work for a blue chip company who can absorb your maternity pay - then so be it.  If you work for a smaller company who is finding these economic times tought to keep cash flow, then shame on you as you will long term affect your collegues.

Hi All, thank you for all your replies. Sorry for not getting back sooner - I have been away camping (I know, must be mad with an 8 month old and 20 weeks pregnant...).

So it seems that most people are just as undecided as I am. Interesting that the question of the size of the organisation came up. I didn't think to post about that because if it was a small company I don't think I would even consider doing what I'm considering doing. It's a largish company that is financially very stable and is doing extremely well in the current economic climate - much better than other similar organisations. My maternity pay wouldn't make a dent overall (but might mean a little rearranging of the staffing budget in my immediate area). I know morally it's wrong, which is why I@m posting cos with the amount of money it's just not straightforward to say no.

DancerRoo - I think that the agonising is a female condition too. My husband is all for it in that it's a business decision and I should just go for it. The reason I would be handing my notice in on day one is because I am currently on maternity leave until 17 July 2011. A second period of maternity leave would start from 17 July 2011 and end in 2012. To qualify for the occ allowance that I have not yet taken I would need to work three months from when I return. But my notice period is also three months. So I go back, hand my notice in and my notice period runs concurrent with the eligibility period. Hope that makes sense - 'tis quite complex...

So I'm back to still thinking about it. Think I might speak to payroll and ask for exact figures and then maybe have a confidential chat with my boss about whether I would be likely to go back to the same role or not, and then go from there.

Many thanks everyone.

Cursing x

I'm a bit confused... and feel very dense... Clearly need more sleep and/or coffee.

Your due date is roughly the middle of Sep (yes?) How can you go back for 3 months without labouring at your desk?

If you wouldn't need to actually work it due to your next maternity leave starting the day you go back then why would you need to come back to the UK at all

... see told you I'm confused!!

This sort of marlarky is why it is getting harder and harder for women of childbearing age to be taken on by employers.

You do what you want OP you might even win cheekest mare of the year.

So Bee - you'd turn the money down would you?

CI I assume she would cut her current leave short...I think
I don't really get the details - if the OP works these 3 months she'll get the enhanced maternity pay from her 1st period of leave as well as occupational maternity allowance for the second??

To be fair Chippin yes I would, it would make me feel ashamed that my job had been held open and that people had been covering my back and then I would even be thinking of pulling a trick like resigning on my first day back. It is not a case of turning money down its a case of not taking the piss and screwing others over.

The OP is obviously not short of a bob or two either.

Stealth - but there isn't 3 months between now and the middle of July... and she has to get back to the UK if she's actually going to work...?

Bee - what on earth makes you say she's not short of a bob or two?

I think that the only fly in the ointment is that you already spoke to your employer and said that you probably wouldn't return at all, hence them making plans on that basis. So they may well be a bit more annoyed than if you had said nothing.

However, you are entitled to return and, although you may face a few off remarks, then it will probably all be forgotten by the time you have been at work a week.

For what it is worth, there was a point early on in my career when I noticed that the most senior people were sometimes the first to take advantage of their terms and conditions of employment. Would other people in the organisation really hold back if they were in your shoes?

I did not return from maternity leave as my employer turned down flat my flexible working request - full time or nothing, despite previously giving me verbal indications that something pt could be worked out. The timing had also been strung out, meaning that it was too late for me to look for another suitable job in my sector (which has a fixed recruitment period). However, I negotiated an agreed, 'good-terms' departure, part of which was that I did not have to pay back occupational maternity pay. I don't feel bad about that and why should I?

ooh I am confused
what happens in mid July? Is that when she's due?

Yes - I agree with branching - it is more than likely that anyone that this does affect wouldn't hesitate to do the same!

(Branching - no reason at all for you to feel bad!)

I think she's due in Mid Sept'ish (without getting a calendar out cos I'm too lazy. She's 20 weeks now).

She said her new maternity leave would start on the 17th of July and she also said that it would start the day she started back to work... so I assume she's due back on the 17th of July which would also seem to tie in with her DD being 8 months now.... I'm wondering if we're I'm being dense of if there's a misleading typo somewhere...?

I hope she comes back soon!

Does she not mean she'd go back earlier and start her new mat leave on 17th July, resigning in September? Is that een possible?

I seem to be confusing you all left right and centre - sorry!

Just to clarify

Ist maternity leave ends 17 July 2011
2nd maternity leave starts 17 July 2011
2nd maternity leave would end 17 July 2012

To get occupational maternity allowance (which I have held off receiving pending decision on my return) I would have to go back for three months at the end of the 2nd period of maternity leave. Therefore I would be going back to the UK July 2012 for three months and handing my notice in on the first day back then. So definately no going back in the meantime. Hope that helps and I haven't just confused everybody all over again.

Laughing at the thought that Beesimo thinks I'm not short of a bob or two. I've just been camping fgs... If I were then I wouldn't even consider going back - why go to the hassle of going back to the UK for three months and sticking my two children into childcare for an insignificant sum (as it would be to me if I were Croesus). Beesimo, my job has been held open because I genuinely did not know whether I would go back or not. I ticked that option on the maternity form. I have always been completely up front with my employers about my intentions. A move to another country was a huge change for us and I wanted to have the financial security and the option of a job to return to should it not work out here. There are a number of reasons why it might not work out for example, my husband might have hated his job, he might have had a serious injury preventing him working, I might have detested living abroad and far from friends and family. All these things still might come into play. In this financial climate I think it would be silly to close a door before you really have to. On top of this, I have always worked and worked hard. I am good at my job and have always been proud of having a career. I guess part of me thinks that I might even want to go back and I'm not ready to walk away just yet.

Branchingout - I agree that it is a fly in the ointment that I have already told them I'm probably not coming back. I found out I was pregnant three weeks later. But being a good egg I was trying to be helpful to them, doh!

I might just pull this malarkey (to quote Beesimo) but safe in the knowledge that I have worked hard, the company ain't short of a bob or two, they haven't struggled to cover my role, and if I tell them what I'm going to do they will be able to arrange suitable cover in time (if I tell them now then they will have over a year to plan what they will do with me for that three months). And I'll wear a tin hat for the three months.

Probably not going to post again on this topic. But thank you all for reading and letting me know your thoughts. Really really useful and helpful.

Cursing x

I see thanks!