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

Try something like BiteSMS which lets you hide notifications from certain numbers. So you're not BLOCKING them, but you can hide all of their messages until you choose to look at them.

Could that help?

And actually, for what it's worth, admin error or not if they don't fix it after being notified they are guilty of harassment.

You are telling it her she is not a "bloody good mother". I agree it's not good for baby but it's a far cry from abuse or being a bad parent.

her refusal to do such a simple thing - blocking one number to allow baby to sleep

implies she is not a bloody good mother

If she was that worried she would block the number - write to HR, and forget about it

Fucking hell - never have I been so enthralled by such a pointless thread.

for hayday

Didn't realise that link was ood flowery, thanks for letting me know.

I do still stand by that it is wrong of them to contact OP up to ten times a day asking her to work while on maternity (which she is even if she has successfully resigned, which we don't know), especially since she has phoned asking it to stop.

glasgowsteven unduly harsh and unnecessary.

She needs harsh!

she is letting her life be upset over such an easy to solve problem!

Glasgow you have missed the point - the company are in the wrong and need to stop.

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/32175/10-1169-pregnancy-and-work-employer.pdf this may be more up to date, page 3.

I would not class 10 texts a day as reasonable contact. Especially if OP has never given any indication that she wants to work during her maternity - and a resignation is a pretty clear message!

Agree stoke - just wasted five minutes of my life reading this total non issue - the mind boggles at some people's stupidity & lack of common sense.

Of course they are!

I agree

and in the meantime, whilst she is going down that route she can block the number!

If her TV was faulty that it kept turning on during the night, would she unplug it whilst the TV company were sending a new one or just let it continue because she is in the right

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/32175/10-1169-pregnancy-and-work-employer.pdf this may be more up to date, page 3.

By her own words they are not her employer

I gave my notice to the head of HR

Steven, he does drift off eventually. I mean what an u sposed to do. Make sure his nap time is as silent as possible?? That will create issues and leave me with nothing I can do while he sleeps. For a first time mother I have been told by plenty of people including midwives that I know what in doing and this might as well be my fifth :) so say what you please about mothering skills, because you clearly know more than a mother herself

But it's not on purpose! FFS

They are not trying to force HER to come back to work.
They are not putting pressure on HER to pick up shifts. It is a blanket text list sent out to all those on it. It is in no way personal to HER.

If all the texts were directed to her an her alone fine I would go with harassment but that is not what is happening. Anyone with half a brain cell can see that.

All she needs to do is block a number SHE NO LONGER NEEDS and write a letter of formal resignation and ask to be removed. End of problem.

You are fuelling a non existent fire Slithy Lets face it I doubt this poster is going to bother to make a stand for pregnant women everywhere. Jesus she can't even put her babies need for sleep above her own desire for DRAMA.

It would be harassment if she had properly asked them to stop but they continued. She either needs to block them or ask them to stop.

You are supposed to block that number.

You have no idea of my parenting history thank you :)

for all you know I could have been the sole carer to a child for a multitude of reasons :) :)

You dont listen to anyone on this site - you are doing the right thing!!!

It would be harassment if she had properly asked them to stop but they continued. She either needs to block them or ask them to stop.

---

Which would be easier and quicker?

:)

She listens to slithy

Fine, whatever passive aggressive I give up

I don't think OP is in the wrong and I think it can easily be sorted by following the simple advice I gave. I think this was a situation no best placed for Aibu as it feels like some posters just want to have a go.

OP hope all goes well! enjoy your baby

As we all should dotty

It could have been sorted days ago had she blocked a freaking number she no longer uses.

I have been aggressive aggressive thank you very much.

I don't understand why you are making a bigger issue out of this than it is Slithy.

Actually slithy I was on a thread with you and I did listen

Damn you

Thanks for the advice, slithy is talking sense and actually helping me.
Rather than most people, that why I listen to her.
Steve, you have no clue about my life, how dare you tell me I'm a bad mother! People like you need to learn how to wind your neck in

OP, you could also try to report the company here:

ico.org.uk/concerns/marketing

Oooooh thanks hayday queen :)

Yes of course she is OP.

Because blocking a number you don't use to stop it waking your baby is well the stupid thing to do.

I am sure writing a letter, then posting it. Then waiting 24 + hours for it to be delivered. Then waiting for someone to open it, then pass it to someone else who will then send it to the IT/payroll/HR team who will then eventually cancel you off the system is soooooo much quicker than that silly block the number instant solution advice you have been give.

Yes it is the stupid thing to do dotty :)
Thank you so much for the sarcasm