to be annoyed about being asked to KIT?

[toolonglurking]

I work for a large public sector organisation, started Maternity Leave in March, DS is 4 months old.
While I've been off my role now has a new Manager. I've popped in to work to see everyone a few times, and therefore met and chatted with her on a couple of occasions.
In the last 3 weeks I've received a letter from her, two text messages and a phone call from her asking me to come in for a Keep In Touch day. (Which I did arrange, I'm supposed to be seeing her when I get back from my holiday I'm about to go on).
I came home today to find a letter from her Manager asking me to call my Manager to arrange a KIT day.

I'm feeling pretty pressured right now, I am not ready to start going back in, but my maternity cover has taken a job elsewhere, so they clearly need me to do some work.

AIBU to tell them I'm not ready and leave them to sort it out? I'm crap at saying 'no' to people.

I thought KIT days were optional? At my old place, we were entitled to 10 paid days, and these included things like the time taken to update ID cards/security checks etc. I didn't think they could dictate when you took them though? Or that you took them at all? Isn't the first time you're officially meant to speak to work when you confirm you will/won't be going back after maternity leave? It sounds like they're stuck if your cover person has left, but that's not for you to solve! Especially not with a newborn. KIT are also generally for training and keeping up to date with changes and so on, not for working per se!

I would. I'd go so far as to say you haven't decided if you're going back and you'll let them know. I haven't done a KIT day with either of my mat leaves as I'm not interested. I'll catch up when l return tomorrow

I would say no to the KIT request that should say.

I thought that KIT days were only to be at the request of the person on Maternity leave. I also thought they were for updates, not for completing actual work. I would just completely ignore tbh or alternatively send some sort of 'out of office' message. You're under no duty to stay in touch while on leave.

This is what I found from a quick Google:

www.gov.uk/employee-rights-when-on-leave

I also understood KIT to be at the request of the employee, not employer.

Say no, you're not ready to come back.

No, either party can request a KIT day - but you can't be forced to work them, and you shouldn't be penalised for not working them. Neither party can insist on KIT days.

Maternity Action have some info - here

I used some of my KIT days to cover holiday because my replacement also left whilst I was on mat leave.

My manager asked me if I would but HR made it absolutely clear that I was under no obligation.

I didn't mind and it was towards the end of my leave anyway. I would say if you don't want to just don't.

I think they are crossing a line. Government guidelines clearly state that you are not obliged to do any KIT days, and that contact during maternity leave should be 'reasonable'. Two letters, two text messages and a phone call repeatedly asking you to do a KIT day is verging on harassment.

So to answer your question, no, you are not being unreasonable at all, and if you have an HR department I'd be copying them in to a polite response along the lines of 'I did receive your 2 letters, 2 text messages and phone call, but unfortunately was not in a position to respond immediately as I am on leave, and I am also not in a position to do any KIT days only 4 months in to my maternity leave. I will contact you when/ if this changes'. Any HR department worth its salt would take heed and advise your manager that they need to be treading a lot more carefully!

I'm at this!

They absolutely should not be pressuring you like this!
Do what Hedgeh0g said

I'm also shocked. I wonder if the new manager has totally misunderstood the guidance on KIT days and somehow thinks s/he is responsible for making them happen?

I did KIT days but they were as and when it suited me. My work did ask me to come in and cover some work which I did as it suited. If it hadn't they would have been told no I'm not doing it regardless of how it left them. Don't feel pressured at all into doing them.

I'd respond by email, CCing in HR with something along the lines of hedgehogs suggestion. You shouldn't feel pressured to go in at all. The numerous forms of contact you've had so far would annoy me a lot. It sounds like they are having problems, but they are not your problems to worry about whilst on leave.

I've never used mine. If they need me to go security checks or training they can do it when I return to work. As far as I know they certainly can't insist you come into work if you don't want to.

Yep you are under no obligation to work KIT days not are the employer obliged to offer them, it's two way and should be no pressure especially from your employer (I work in HR). At the end of the day you are on mat leave and if you wanted you could switch off completely during this time and have no contact with work until you advise them of your return.
Don't be pressured into working them at all!
I'm doing my best currently to switch off but already had texts and emails from colleagues asking stupid questions (where can I find this when its pretty obvious!), I won't be doing any KIT days unless I want to later in the year and work are happy to offer them.

You're best off doing KIT days -if you want to do them - once your maternity pay has run out.

How long is your maternity pay for? With my work if we are still on full maternity pay we don't get paid again for any KIT day we do until we are on the standard pay. Therefore it isn't financially worth it for any of us to do a KIT day before we drop to SMT only. So if you do do a KIT day you may lose the chance to get paid for it at a later date when it is worth it (and you need the money as you're on the standard only )

We also use our KIT days as a phased return to work (ie so you can do a couple of days a week for a few weeks to get back into work before going back to your usual working pattern) so you could mention that you plan to do this if possible?

Your new manager is being over zealous for sure but it sounds as if you haven't replied to any of her communications? Can you not simply email her saying you aren't ready for KIT days yet, thank you but you will be in touch when you are ready. Cc the manager who contacted you. That person may not be aware of how many times you have been contacted.

I've responded to all her contact and we had a date set up for me to see her in a couple of weeks.
Hedgeh0g I like what you've suggested, I shouldn't be feeling so pressured, I've always been upfront with them about the likelihood of me taking 9 months to a year off.

It sounds like they're putting alot of pressure on you. I agree with previous suggestions- send a clear, direct but polite email saying you're not in a position to go back into work yet. Keep us updated on the response!

Tell them no. I'm not doing any KIT days.

Op can you update us? What did you do/say in the end?