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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Is this taking the piss or not? (Maternity leave)

99 replies

RolyPolierThanThou · 27/02/2015 11:51

I'm going to try to put this as neutrally as I can.

I work for an organisation that has about 120 employees. A woman started working here who, three months into her role and still a trainee, announced she was pregnant. Everyone was really pleased for her and congratulated her but she must surely have been ttc as she took the job, unless it was an accident (which is plausible). But everyone was genuinely happy and excited for her.

Anyway, everyone signed a card and gave her gifts for the baby and she took a year's maternity leave and we were all happy for her. Traineeship normally lasts about 8 months here but because she'd be taking maternity leave she was kept as a trainee right through her maternity leave, with a view to promote upon her return.

She came back from maternity leave and after three months was promoted from trainee to her current role. It was at this point she announced that she was expecting AGAIN. She had basically returned from maternity leave already pregnant! I'm sure this happens, but considering she'd practically joined the organisation pregnant makes this seem suspect.

Anyway, she has now returned from her second full year's maternity leave and guess what - pregnant again. She has told at least one person in our team but it's not yet fully announced.

So is she taking the proverbial or is this just something that happens?

She is in her late thirties so I guess might feel under pressure to have children quickly. It just seems she keeps coming back pregnant and announces it after promotion. The company doesn't offer any enhanced maternity packages (only the statutory minimum) but people have been pushing management for a better maternity package, but her case is hardly going to sway their minds.

So what do you think? Completely reasonable and just part of life or a scourge on women's rights in the workplace?

OP posts:

Feckeggblue · 27/02/2015 16:21

Don't understand why shes being automatically promoted without any work/ success behind it? Surely she comes back to her role and completes her training?

I doubt she'll get enhanced maternity with such a short gap but the fact her career is progessing so quickly and she's earning more is surely completely down to the companies choice? They've got themselves in this situation.

As for her, good for her. Wish I was that lucky

Feckeggblue · 27/02/2015 16:29

Sorry that took so long to post I realise I misread the trainee period

StrawberryCheese · 27/02/2015 16:42

Congratulations OP! I am of the opinion that it is not an ideal situation from a company point of you but you haven't done anything wrong and are perfectly entitled to be pregnant whenever you want! If I was in your shoes I would feel a bit guilty but it's a job, family is more important.

As it happens I am being made redundant at the end of March when I will be 15 weeks pregnant. So, I'm looking for work and there is a strong possibility if I don't find something soon that I may be going to interviews with a bump. It fills me with dread if I'm honest because I think, well who's going to employ me when I will be leaving to have a baby in a few months. I can't imagine anyone welcoming me with open arms but what choice do I have

JillyR2015 · 27/02/2015 16:56

The law is the law.
Why anyone would want so long at home with no maternity pay is beyond me though.... I had 3 in 4 years and went back after 2 weeks off each time and back full time and my career went really well. We reap what we sow in life.

TheAnswerIsYes · 27/02/2015 17:04

Jilly, I can't understand why someone would go back to work after two weeks instead of spending time with their baby. Horses for courses.

Fauxlivia · 27/02/2015 17:06

OP I'm sorry but I think you are taking the piss. MN will tell you that what you are doing is perfectly fine but irl I suspect the view will be different.

Employers hire people to do jobs and you are unavailable to do what they've hired you for. If you had worked for the company for a few years before getting pg or had returned from ml and done a few years work before having no2 then I would think differently. They've not had any real value from you but have had to keep your job open twice and now will have to do it again.

I get why you're doing it this way and it's true that companies have no loyalty to staff but even so I would be pissed off if I was your boss.

SolasEile · 27/02/2015 17:21

If she took maternity leave within 3 months of joining she wouldn't have been entitled to any maternity pay surely?

Feckeggblue · 27/02/2015 17:38

The company doesn't offer enhanced maternity. She'll be entitled to SMP

Winglet · 27/02/2015 17:40

YABU.

It's only a job. Her desire for a family should come first, especially at that age and she isn't even getting a great maternity package so why not?

Aridane · 27/02/2015 17:56

OP - it's a good thing you're not a nanny posting on the Home Childcare board...

RandomMess · 27/02/2015 18:02

One thing I haven't seen commented on in any threads (apologies if it's been missed) just because you get pregnant doesn't mean that it progresses etc. Yep you can start a new job/return from maternity leave & be pregnant/get pregnant straight away. However that pregnancy may not work out as there are never guarantees!

Hope it goes okay for you OP the early years of a few young children and working are tough but it is worth it.

BoneyBackJefferson · 27/02/2015 18:32

The only thing that ever bothered me about this sort of situation was continually training replacements.

I would have liked to have been told sooner so that I could have kept the cover on (in whatever role, especially the good ones) so that we didn't need to train person after person for the same role.

ilovechristmas1 · 27/02/2015 18:34

yabu

HoldMeCloserTonyDanza · 27/02/2015 19:29

Since when is 120 employees a small company?!

I run an actual small company and if you were one of 3 or 4 employees I'd have some sympathy for the employers - your absence could be a real difficulty for them.

But most companies do not live or die on one employee. I have had people quit at short notice to go "find themselves" travelling SE Asia. At least mat leave gives you a bit of notice!! If a company with 120 employees is finding itself in trouble because someone takes maternity leave, I'd urge everyone there to start ending off CVs ASAP because that company is not well run.

Laquila · 27/02/2015 19:42

Crikey there are some depressing posts on here.

"Behaviour like this..." - what, women having babies and also trying to support themselves and their families??! BURN THEM!

Annbag · 27/02/2015 19:43

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at the poster's request.

Custardcream14 · 27/02/2015 20:39

Women has three children.... Not really sure what the problem is. Surely this is the case when any women has more than one child?

MidniteScribbler · 27/02/2015 20:43

I think that if the OP had worked for the company for a few years first it may be a bit different, but she has spent more time on the leave than actually working. I could understand if an employer didn't trust an employee like this with any great level of responsibility until they were sure that they had completed their family and were going to commit to working long term for the company.

arethereanyleftatall · 27/02/2015 20:50

It isn't the 3 children custard. It's ttc when you join a company and then having 3 children in quick succession.
A big difference fir me is whether the op did this intentionally, I don't think she has said . If she did, no one can possibly argue that this us very fair on the company.

YellowTulips · 27/02/2015 21:13

Tbh I'm surprised she keeps being promoted given how little experience she would have gained based on your post. But perhaps she is very good at her job - shock

But is it wrong - of course not.

Fertility isn't dictated by the workplace and as long as she is following maternity policy then it's her decision.

We really need to get over this "issue" and a sense of injustice about women's maternity rights and women abusing the system.

It's like having a fucking womb tax....

FamiliesShareGerms · 27/02/2015 21:18

I know it's completely within her rights etc but I do think it's slightly off behaviour, as your employer has you on their books to do a particular role, which you can't do when you aren't there. I know I'll get flamed for that...

YellowTulips · 27/02/2015 21:19

Oops just seen your update OP

Congratulations

notquiteruralbliss · 27/02/2015 21:48

This is why I have always done project work. Being off on maternity leave (admittedly weeks not months) was never an issue. I would just roll off a project when I was about to have a baby send slot into a new one on my return.

puddymuddles · 27/02/2015 21:55

I think there is nothing wrong with what she is doing. YABU.

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