Aibu about a work situation?

[MrsPepperpot79]

Or perhaps better is am I just being oversensitive and paranoid? Got a feeling I might be... Anyway, recently returned from maternity leave, and I returned part time. My work originally were fine, then tried to get me to reduce my proposed hours to unsustainable levels so they could keep my mat cover on too. I refused. Mat cover left, I returned. Except my cover hasn't left, really. They "pop in" to chat to my boss. They socialise with my coworkers. Which is fine, they all get on. Except they come to work do's, not just external socialising? I find it a bit weird to still come to specifically work related stuff when you don't work there anymore. Aibu? Like I said, I think I am prob being daft, but I feel a bit undermined and insecure....

does sound odd - is it a big company? have they definitely left the business or is it possible that they are working elsewhere for the same company? Failing that is she dating someone you work with?

It is a fairly small business. And def left, as I do hr and sent out the p45! She's not dating anyone as is married (well, the married bit is definite, the dating would be extremely unlikely unless someone is being very naughty!). I just find it all a bit, um, off.

That does sound off. I would be keeping my eyes peeled in that situation...

in which case definitely off. maybe time for a well executed 'joke' about being there more than those who work there?!

I don't see any issue with people still socialising when they no longer work at a place. It's quite commonplace where I'm from.

The thing is, if you used to be FT (and you won't need me to tell you this) they were only obliged to take you back FT. If you wanted to return PT you were obviously entitled to ask for that, and they were obliged to consider it, but they weren't obliged to take you back on those terms and were possibly hoping for a win/win situation whereby they had you both.

Seems to me they should have pushed a bit harder (if that's what they wanted) for you to take shorter hours. As it is your mat cover is seemingly trying to keep her hand in and your employers seem happy for her to do that. I can see it's a bit uncomfortable for you, but you do after all have the hours you want so you may just have to grin and bear it and hope she gets fed up

She's just playing the game as she wants back in, they obviously like her a lot to ask you to reduce your hours to keep you both. She's probably hoping if she keeps in with them they'll take her back on as well. She's a clever one but just crack on with your job, integrate, don't take it personally and eventually she'll go away.

It's common where I work but I can understand why you feel a bit funny about it though.