Work harassing me while on maternity leave

[Lilannii]

I found out I was pregnant April last year and after asking the home I work in to put me down for shorter shifts was declined I took my maternity leave ASAP. Since then they have made a list of bank staff and text them with available shifts for the week, but it's every single day. My little one is 5 months old now and these bloody texts keep waking him up! I shouldn't have to silence my phone all day every day. I never opted to be on this list, I even told them late December I had quit. I get about 8 texts a day, I have called them twice last week, the first time the person in charge was supposed to call me back and never did and the second time the receptionist was supposed to pass a message on, I have called them this morning and am waiting again for the person in charge of the list to phone me back. Does this constitute harrassment?? What can I do about this? It's driving me nuts. Especially when little man has been ill and only just drifted off to sleep them to be woken by work texting

[Joysmum]

Edit your settings so your phone is always on do not disturb except for your favourites list.

[glasgowstevenagain]

Phone on vibrate

keep it in different room to your baby

you do not need to see your message the minute it arrives

drama llama!


Longer term - going back to work at this place will not be fun if you are being so obtuse with them...

have a think

option 1 - cause a load of rumpus

option 2 - phone on silent

[pluCaChange]

Good grief, are people not allowed to be annoyed at incompetence which consistently causes problems? Why is Lilannii the one "to blame"? Okay, there may be a technical solution, but it's really the company's responsibility to act, isn't it?

[BomChickaMeowMeow]

^Can my employer contact me whilst I am on maternity leave?
Reasonable contact between employer and employee is encouraged in law and the introduction of KITdays should assist with this further. However unreasonable contact by the employer could be construed as harassment and a failure to contact at all could be classed as deliberate isolation therefore a balance needs to be established. It is recommended that the employer and employee discuss the level of contact before she start maternity leave.^

www.sydneymitchell.co.uk/services-individuals/employment-law/maternity-and-paternity-leave/maternity-leave

[hobblebobble]

No harassment, no data protection issues, impossible to charge them and they will laugh at the suggestion. Just an admin error at work.
OP having a bad day and a baby that does not want to sleep and is determined to stay awake. Turn phone off or down and away from baby ?
And yes 3 phone calls in several months is not much

[Lilannii]

Thanks for all the useful advice which doesn't constitute turning my phone off, and thank you very much my little man sleeps through outside noise fine. The only reason my phone is near him is when I am getting him to sleep, I cannot put my phone on silent the button has broken( not that I think that's the right thing to do) they text at least 4 times a day not just the once and if I ignore it it beeps again until I look at the message. I have told them I quit in dec and handed in my uniform and id badge, I obviously don't get any pay from them as I'm not working but still get texts everyday and payslips every month. I definetly would like to take this further, you have to opt in to the text service and I haven't, I was wondering where I would go from here to take it another step further. Although there are some really helpful answers here. Thanks :)

[EarthWindFire]

Good grief, are people not allowed to be annoyed at incompetence which consistently causes problems? Why is Lilannii the one "to blame"? Okay, there may be a technical solution, but it's really the company's responsibility to act, isn't it?

The OP has asked if it's harassment and what can they do about it. They don't however seem to like the replies that they have had.

Why is it automatically the company's responsibility. People have suggested things to the OP that would be easy to resolve the situation, that they don't want to do.

Mountain and molehill spring to mind.

[Nicknacky]

So why not just block their number if you aren't going to work for them again?

[Lilannii]

I can block their number but it's the principle. I Shoils not have to, because they are too incompetent to fix their problem

[EarthWindFire]

If you have quit you are not on maternity leave. Did you actually tell them in writing you are quitting because in your OP you stare that you started your maternity leave early.

You also need to ensure how many texts you are getting as you are quoting different numbers.

Look at your old contract and see if you had to opt in or out. If you did try to take this further I can see you being told to block the number which I really struggle to understand why it is that you won't just block them.

[BillnTedsMostFeministAdventure]

OP

IPhone 4S has the option to get to various settings through the menu even if the button is broken.

Can you turn it right down or leave the phone outside the room whilst you are settling him?

Agree, write and ask to be removed from list.

[Nicknacky]

Whilst you shouldn't have to, you are making this a far bigger issue than it needs to be. Why give yourself the stress?!

[EarthWindFire]

I can block their number but it's the principle. I Shoils not have to, because they are too incompetent to fix their problem

I really can't see why you are digging your heels in? It is such a non issue.

[BillnTedsMostFeministAdventure]

No, you shouldn't have to block but it's probably the quickest way to achieve your goals!

[Lilannii]

I haven't confirmed in writing but was told I did not need to,
Today I have had 7 texts
Friday I had 10 texts
Thursday I had 6 texts
Wednesday I had 12 texts
I could go back further if need be. They have only been texting since 16th June sorry I forgot to mention the date, so it hasn't been since i quit

[hobblebobble]

The thing is that it is not harassment as it likely to be an automated system and OPs number is on there some how - a simple error where some one thought it should be. Harrassment is a very serious issue when genuine, but this is surely just an annoyance?

[Lilannii]

I will write them a letter about this list and pray that somebody listens, the whole company is a joke anyway. Thank you for your help. I think I will just exit this post now as most people would rather criticise than help :)

[Nicknacky]

Why not just block??

[pluCaChange]

Why is it automatically the company's responsibility.

Because it is?

If your old employer randomly started texting you (and Lilanii has now added that it started after she quit), wouldn't you be narked? Not to mention what sounds like a slightly unpleasant end to the employment.

[Nanny0gg]

Bugger the principle!

If it's that annoying then just block it!!

And why didn't you need to confirm your resignation in writing? That may have something to do with it...

[Lilannii]

Thank you plucachange, it was a nasty end to employment. I was told I didn't need to put it in writing cause I handed my stuff in directly to head of hr who deals with resignations

[glasgowstevenagain]

Is it the principle - if they text you 100 times an hour

No you would block it.

Block it and never worry about it again.

Other SAHM must wonder where you have all the energy to worry about such a trivial matter.....

Regarding the button on your phone - you should be able to use a keystroke on the touch screen :)

[glasgowstevenagain]

Start replying

I will cover that shift!

Every time!

they will soon take you off the register :)

[Flipflops7]

Have you left the firm or are you on maternity leave?

If the latter, silence the phone and if it is a company phone ask them to send you a replacement that works.

If you do not work for them any more, send a letter to their HR advising the date you left and reminding them that you are receiving confidential information from a company you no longer work for. This is their liability so HR should direct your removal from mailing lists.

[dawndonnaagain]

It's not illegal ffs!!
Yes it is.