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

[fawltydoge]

the issue is that if OP blocked the number/put her phone on silent there would be nothing to whinge about

[phantomnamechanger]

Build a case? you planning on suing them or summat?

hahaha you had me going then, for a minute I thought you were serious!

[glasgowstevenagain]

His mother is making him suffer the consequences of her own idiocy because "it's the principle of the matter". Please fix this mentality before raising your child. He needs a mother that puts his needs before her ego, not a toxic mother that will be playing stupid games at his expense.


THIS times 1000!!!!!!

Look after your child.

Block the number, let your poor baby have a good sleep!

Chill out.....its not worth it.

And hand in your notice - backdated!

[secretlypregnant]

Two separate issues here.

YANBU to be annoyed by the texts - they really need to sort it out and I would be badgering THEM by phone and by letter until they confirmed it was sorted. It must be absolutely infuriating.

YABU not to use your settings menu to turn the phone on silent when baby is sleeping. It makes no difference to the company and never will. The only people it is causing a problem for are you and your little one.

Just go to Settings/Do Not Disturb.

[StillFrigginRexManningDay]

You think you've seen and heard it all and along comes some class of fresh twattery.

[saintlyjimjams]

Build a case?? What sort of case?

I'd be more worried about continuing to receive payslips - are they going to expect you to return to work?

[DottyDooRidesAgain]

Tbh I have had a rubbish day and this thread has cheered me up slightly and befuddled me a little too

[MissDuke]

Op I was posting to agree with you until the 'build a case' comment - now you are on your own!

[BackforGood]

This really is another poster for whom we need to start the "Can you all come and validate what I think" area of the board, so they don't have to ask AIBU when they refuse to accept they are. Well possibly not unreasonable to be a bit annoyed, but very unreasonable not to take on board any of the myriad of helpful suggestions and thoughts that posters have offered.

The 'build a case' comment is ridiculous.

[glasgowstevenagain]

I'd be more worried about continuing to receive payslips - are they going to expect you to return to work?


How will they let her know - by Text :):):)

[UncleT]

It's apparently disturbing the baby, but then on the other hand it's apparently 'the principle' of it that the number shouldn't be blocked or the phone turned to silent? It can't really be that disruptive if this 'principle' is so badly worth sticking to.

[glasgowstevenagain]

Some people just need a battle :)

[slithytove]

I had to build my case against my employer for mistreatment while pregnant.

Nothing to do with money. It was to keep my next baby (and other pregnant women's babies) safe.

[phantomnamechanger]

slithy of course some people may have to genuinely build a case - only the OPs baby is in no danger from the texts, and there are plenty of ways the Op can stop this problem right away!

[flowery]

So hang on. A couple of weeks ago you started getting texts as you'd been included in an automated list as a result of an administrative error.

You haven't written and requested that you are removed from the list, but have rung a couple of times and left messages for someone to get back to you.

Now, because they haven't immediately removed you on the strength of those phone messages you are planning to bring some kind of legal claim?

When actually you could block the number and remove the inconvenience entirely?

[StillFrigginRexManningDay]

She is not being mistreated she is being annoyed by texts that she can block.

[slithytove]

Just trying to make the point that building a case in no way automatically means seeking compensation.

And I think OP has a point. It is works behaviour which should stop. I'm sure a formal letter would do it, and a call to acas will help with that. Regardless of what OP does with her phone, this is classed as harassment while on maternity leave.

It's like if a child was getting bullied on the way to school. Yes, that child could change their route, but why should they when they are not in house wrong.

[slithytove]

not in the wrong

[slithytove]

Building a case does not equal a legal claim.

It could be as simple as a complaint and grievance for harassment. Evidence of the texts and proof that OP has requested this to stop will be enough to build the case.

[slithytove]

No, I was the one mistreated still

[MiscellaneousAssortment]

I suspect the 'build a case' idea stems from a breakdown in relationship going back to before Christmas, when the OP asked for reduced working hours and was refused.

We're picking up on the anger that's coming from the OP, and seems ridiculous when it's about a few texts that she could easily stop - but I'm thinking the anger isn't really about the texts but has been brewing for months. After all, the texts have only been happening a few days from what's been said here!

Care agencies as a rule are notorious for treating their employees badly, and their 'service users', which encourages the abuse levels which happen. There is a massive business opportunity for someone who creates an agency that respects and cares for their workers and clients... Good carers will flock to a place that values them, and clients will be desperate to have the reassurance that a good and non abusive, non neglective carer is not because the individual is good, but that any carer sent will be of this quality and ethics. Anyway, I digress!

So I wonder if there is more to the story than a mix up with texts. I also think that the OP needs to check the legal situation very carefully, as usually agencies skirt the law carefully and although they may have treated you badly, it may well not be covered by the law.

You need to find out whether there is any point in making your life and your babies life more difficult, dwelling on a bad situation in the past, and nursing a grievance which harms your own well being but potentially no one else's. It's easy to get stuck in this attitude, but it can be the better thing to let to of your anger, and need for restitution or vengeance.

[StillFrigginRexManningDay]

It is not like a child being bullied. OP could block the number and write a letter informing her former employers that her number is still on the automated text service and that she is still recieving payslips even though she resigned back in December. She chooses not to do this and instead madd a couple of phone calls when even the dogs on the street know that these things must be written in a letter and sent to HR.

[Lilannii]

Squiggly squid, there is nothing wrong with my mentality. The whole point of this post was to find out how I can take the next step as contacting them myself clearly is not effective. I am a bloody good mother to my son, and not a toxic mother. I have the advice I was after so why bring my parenting skills into question too?

[slithytove]

Or, OP could put together her complaint/grievance, since she doesn't want to work there any more anyway, and let it come to its natural conclusion. Either they will change their practices or they won't.

But sometimes, having that say can be very important for moving on if you have been poorly treated by an employer.

speaks from bitter experience

[StillFrigginRexManningDay]

Aye I know you said you were the one that was mistreated slithy.