To be annoyed by work colleagues contacting me while on maternity leave?

[maternitart]

On holiday last week - while on mat leave too - I received two phone calls, a number of emails to my personal account and a text regarding work from 3 different people. I'm 7 months into my leave and don't plan to return for a while. It's clear my personal number and email have been given out even to colleagues who I don't know or haven't really met.

I do check my work email from time to time too. I've just had an email from a colleague saying that apparently I've agreed to do a client conference call this week, and a client meeting next month, and what time can I do the call? (This is all bollocks - I haven't agreed to anything - but relates to the call/email/texts I got in the last week and it seems something has been promised without checking with me.)

It's hard as I'm friends with some of the colleagues in question and I don't want to be a prat about it, but to me maternity leave is sacred, I'll never get this time back, and I actually find it quite stressful when I get these requests saying they NEED me to help (I was not replaced when I went on leave) or that they've already set up meetings for me with clients!

I have done some KIT days, and I am happy to consider them if they suit me (i.e. the work load is realistic, I can help and I can sort childcare), but AIBU to be pissed off at this, that they assume I am available? What are my legal rights? Should I just suck it up as I should be grateful to have a job?

(NC'ed as this might out me)

I don't have a clue about the legality of it I'm afraid

But you are absolutely NOT BU about this. I would be really cross. I almost accused my boss of harrassment once, for texting me while I was off sick, so I'm probably not the best one to give advise

It is illegal for them to ask you to work, unless it is an agreed KIT day.

The employer does not have to offer KIT days, and you do not have to agree to them if they do.

Errmm they sound like they are just asking I'd you can help not forcing you into anything. I'm also on mat leave and really like hearing from my colleagues. I meet up for a coffee every 3 months and get to hear the latest office gossip. I think yabu and this is more to do with never wanting to leave your baby which I for one can relate too.

Contact your manager. Say you think some people may not be aware you're on ML as you've received texts etc from X and Y, whom you don't know, and who appear to think you're booked in for client meetings. As you're sure she remembers, your ML finishes on XX date and you cannot attend meetings till then except on arranged KIT days. Please can she remind people of this.

End of.

I used to get this after I took voluntary redundancy. It stopped after I pointed out my new hourly consultancy rate was £400ph (yes ph)

Creamteas - how do you arrange a KIT day though without them asking you to work? I'm not sure... That's what they're basically asking me to do (use my KIT days) I think, it's just badly managed and communicated.

Damash I would be more than up for a nice coffee and gossip with my colleagues, in fact I do meet up with some of them and enjoy it - but what I take objection to is people assuming that I'll do work on specific dates to the point of even arranging it with a client! I have left my baby before for work and for other reasons, and it was absolutely fine for all involved.

Thanks RP, unfortunately the people who have contacted me have made it very clear they know I'm on mat leave, so not sure whether that would work. And I'm pretty sure they aren't checking with my manager before contacting me either, so I doubt that would have much impact. I could let HR know though in the hope they'd have words.

Holly if that was my rate I'd do the work in a flash... haha

Just email them back saying you are on ML so won't be doing any work. Or ignore the emails/texts - you don't have to be contactable.

They can contact you or you can contact them and ask about a KIT day.

But there is no obligation on either them to offer or allow one, or you to accept.

Just decide what a sensible boundary is and get in touch with your manager to explain this politely. E.g you want to keep in touch ready for when you return but cannot be available at short notice or without prior consultation whilst on leave. You cannot be contacted on your personal e-mail account. You will respond to phone messages left on a number convenient to you (home or mobile) within an appropriate time.

Once you have done that make sure you observe the boundaries - do not reply to any e-mails sent to your personal account and don't rush to pick up the phone when work call. Deal with their calls reasonably promptly and always politely, but remember they should not be getting in touch with you about anything urgent because you have been on leave for 7 months so there must be some other contingency plan in place by now.

If a crisis occurs it will not be your fault, it will be lousy management who failed to cover your leave or poor planning by a colleague. Not you.

Tell them that working outside of the KIT days will affect you maternity pay and therefore you will be unable to address any work issues unless within or regarding a KIT day or in dire emergency.

If the latter, you're hourly rates of pay are £400ph. Because you're worth it!

Where I work, KIT days, if they happen at all, would normally be towards the end of ML and are more like a training day. They would not be to cover work or to have client meetings.

And quote them this which clearly states that contact and work outside of the agreed KIT days can result in DWP disqualifying your maternity allowance, meaning DWP can declare that ML has ended.

Tell your boss and set up an out of office response saying you are on maternity leave. Don't check any more email!!

Personsaly, I think it depends on what your maternity package is like.

If you are with a company that gives you a generous package that is well over your legal entitlement, I think you do have a moral obligation to be slightly flexible when they need you, as long as you aren't heavily pregnant or with a newborn.

Things like this are give and take IMO.

If your maternity package is crap though, then ignore any further emails and tell them you won't be doing the call.

There's no give it take our morals involved clouds.

It's maternity leave. Regardless of what they are paying you. You're on leave, you aren't there!

This happened a lot with my old boss he asked me to attend courses and meetings I eventually brought dd to one of the meetings as I had no child care in place it made the point for me he never asked again.

Another thing to consider is what your job actually entails, and if any liability is involved. I'm a GP and when GPs are on maternity leave our medical indemnity is suspended (we could still pay it if we wanted to, but it's thousands of £ per year so if you're not working it's really not worth it). So when I was on maternity leave I couldn't have worked even if I'd wanted to, as I wasn't insured. If these conference calls etc require up-to-date knowledge of work issues, you may not be in a position to carry them out effectively.

If the company you work for has an HR department it would make sense to contact them and ask that they remind people (named if necessary) that you are on maternity leave and, as such, are unavailable for work. They should also make it clear that your personal e-mail and mobile numbers are not to be used for work-related contact.

I would reply and say that many apologies, you aren't going to be able to do the call as you will have a seven month baby with you, who doesn't give the most professional atmosphere to proceedings. And you're sorry, but you don't know how that came to be arranged, as clearly you're on maternity leave and so wouldn't have made those arrangements yourself.

It's v tempting to just ignore, but if you're planning on going back to work with these people then you need to start making it clear now about occasions when you simply can't step in, or else you will be taken advantage of (especially if you go back part time). This is absolutely not to say that if you are part time you shouldn't potentially be flexible - but mid maternity leave is not one of those times.

Imagine that is a good point! We have to be insured to be on campus where I work so you cannot just come back casually.

Op my point was not that people were running things by the manager, but rather that they weren't and this might put then wind up her as she would likely realise the implications.

Just email them straightforwardly then and say no!

I would reply and say that many apologies, you aren't going to be able to do the call as you will have a seven month baby with you, who doesn't give the most professional atmosphere to proceedings. And you're sorry, but you don't know how that came to be arranged, as clearly you're on maternity leave and so wouldn't have made those arrangements yourself.

I think this is a good reply.

Nip it in the bud now by asking your boss to ensure you aren't contacted by any team members. It is out of order esp people you have not met contacting you via personal email/text.

Then don't log into your work email, as I think it can give the impression you want to work/are interested. It could send out mixed messages.

I agree with contacting your manager and saying that you don't wish to be contacted on your personal number or e-mail regarding work. Also that you don't want work giving your personal addresses/numbers to anyone.

Then decide what you want to do about your work e-mail. You could have nothing to do with it until you go back, although it's a bit more blurred if you're doing KIT days etc.

Strategically, it may also pay to be kept in the loop about various projects as there may be opportunities etc, so decide how you're going to play it and let your colleagues know.