CF boss!!

[Sukitaketwo]

Ok, so, I'm a bit pissed off about this situation so I am turning to the power of MN to seek a little advice! I've NC for this as I'm worried it might be a bit outing.
I'm currently on maternity leave. Just before I left, my workplace made a bit of a hash of employing someone to cover my job, leaving it too late to advertise (I informed them I was pregnant after my 12 week scan- they had plenty of time to sort themselves out!) They filled my position from within the team. This chap is trying his best but he is not really meeting the requirements of the job and it's all turned into a bit of a mess (despite me trying to support him during handover and offering advice via email once on mat leave when he asked for it.)
Just before I left there was an opportunity for a promotion. I decided to go for it, however, I was told by my boss that I won't be considered as a) I will have a new family to consider and b) I want to return part time (don't worry, I realised this is discrimination so I've logged it with my union!) Anyway, the promotion fell through and no one was offered the role.
Yesterday morning I recieve a phone call from my boss. He said that he is offering me the "opportunity" to return to work early. Basically they want me to leave my child early to come back and fix the mess that this other chap has created- charming. Obviously, I am going to say no, however I would like to send an email to clairfy what has been asked of me and link it to the lack of promotion etc
Any thoughts?

p.s I'll be looking for a new job now, too. One where I'm valued!

I think the union might be interested in the email your boss has sent you also.... Why aren't you grovelingly grateful, btw? CF Boss indeed!

Obviously he shouldn't have mentioned your family, but I don't think it's unreasonable that the fact that you're going part time should count against you when deciding who gets a promotion.

It may well be a job that requires a full time person.

Your boss made a hash of wording it appropriately but I don't think what he wants or is effectively saying is unreasonable. It's lovely that you're having a child but at the end of the day (I hate that idiom) targets and objectives still need to be met.
As far as your boss can see they've hired someone who can't do the job and need someone who can to get back in pronto and these expectations might be at odds with you now having a family to consider and wanting to go part-time.

Tempting as it is to rub his face in it, I would politely decline saying it's not possible for you to Return early
and say you are looking forward to returning to work on xxxx (date of your choice).
If you want to return part time remember they don't have to agree this, so keep them onside as you want the PT contract from them. It's not really on that your boss has mentioned you having a family but not worth making an issue out of in your circumstances.

gracielacey I'm dropping half a day. It's not that part time!

vladimirspoutine I think it is unreasonable to badger me to come back early under the guise of it being an "opportunity". To be quite blunt- what exactly is in it for me? I still have 7 months of maternity left. I wasn't part of the hiring process which they left to sort out two weeks before I was due to go on mat leave. Otherwise I could have told them the person taking on the role would need a a support provision in place (due to his lack of experience)
I don't want to run in and save the day as I don't believe I will get any thanks for it.

@gracielacey I think the OP means her boss has assumed she’ll go part time now she has a child rather than they’ve discussed and agreed that

candlelight123 perhaps my tone is of writing is too harsh. I don't want to rub his face in it as we do actually have a good working relationship. I perhaps, wanted to make him aware that he wasn't always treating me fairly. I'm quite hurt but this but reading my original message I do sound quite confrontational. This isn't me at all!
The PT has already been agreed and I have letter of confirmation.

The lack of promotion is a separate issue. I personally think it would be petty to try and link back to this in your email, although I can completely understand why you are annoyed about it.

I would simply send an email back advising that you intend to take the full year of maternity leave that you are entitled to and leave it at that. It's not an "opportunity" given you could come back early anyway if you give the required notice, however I can't see what calling him out on this would achieve.

I think perhaps I just need to let this go. I felt upset that I wouldn't be considered for career progression. I have been with this company almost 15 years and have given them good service. Rarely sick, happy to do overtime etc.

Thanks violetbunny

Sounds like they are panicking! No excuse for your boss to approach it in that way though... Glad you've been talking to the union. I've had similar requests from work, and I've still got 5 months off. I have been going in however for fully paid keeping in touch days to check in with my cover. I'm the only one that does my particular role, so want to save myself a big mess when I go back. But you are well within your rights to go offline! Hope all gets sorted and you enjoy the rest of your MAT Leave with your baby.

Can you state that you would very much like to take up the new role (assuming you want it?) but will be unable to start before xx date and working xx hours per week.

Asking you to come back early isn't badgering you. It makes sense to ask if they need someone. It's only badgering if they hound you with calls and emails about it.

Unfortunately, as many women realise, all that work you put in before being off, often doesn't matter. Employers focus on what you can do for them now.

And of course you will be wanting more money for less hours. Put that in his pip and let him smoke it, enjoy your baby

Email him along the lines of 'Hi x, I just wanted to clarify some details after our phone call yesterday. You asked me to return to work to [details of sorting fuck up]. Can you confirm what my job role and salary would be if I agree to this? I am unsure if you intend me to return to the same role or to the new role of [promotion] which was advertised previously'.

It's tempting to use this situation as an opportunity to teach a salutary lesson to this clearly misogynistic boss. However, you would be better off keeping quiet, declining politely to sacrifice your legal right to protected maternity leave, and focus on changing jobs when the time is right. That may not be immediately at the end of this maternity leave. It can be a bumpy road as you learn to juggle childcare and work, perhaps better to do that in a place where you know you will be checking out sooner or later anyway, rather than where you are new, just learning the ropes and trying to make a good impression.

Your maternity leave is supposed to be totally secluded from the world of work if you want it to be. The problems of the business are none of your concern and they should leave you alone.

Ask him what makes it an ‘opportunity’. More money? Better benefits? Part-time but with no salary drop?

He’s probably right that wanting to go part-time will go against you in promotion terms - a more responsible job is likely to require more hours, not fewer. But he’s monumentally stupid to say that having a child will count against you.

Your employer has illegally discriminated against you by refusing to consider you for promotion because of your maternity. Really very daft of your boss to actually cite that.

They weren't efficient enough to get somebody competent to do your job and now they have realised you are skilled and experienced they want you to ignore the maternity they leveraged to refused you promotion. Once again your boss is handling this without much skill, pretending it's an "opportunity". Um... yeah, for them.

This does give you a strong negotiating position, at least in theory. You could point out that you would really have two jobs - sorting out the mess and doing your old job. You would therefore need an assistant, (which means you are a manager) a new title, a raise commensurate with your increased responsibilities and an open door to moving upwards in the company.

I'd get some feedback from the Union legal dept as well, before writing anything.

Your employers sound like they didn't realise your job was actually useful and important.