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AIBU?

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Original poster

Employer let me go...now what?

104 replies

enbh · 14/09/2018 09:36

I didn't really know where to post this. My employer has chosen not to take me back part time ( 3 days per week) after maternity leave. I know absolutely that it's their right to do so, although have to say I'm very disappointed. Virtually everyone works part time there. Even my colleague with no dependent children finishes at 2:00 as she has to let her two labradors out. Not bitter, honest!

Anyway...just feeling a bit lost and looking for a bit of a hand hold really. I'm going to be looking for a job immediately as i was due to go back next month. I feel like this is such a bad time for me to be starting a new job, baby not sleeping well at the min due to teething and I can't even imagine learning a new skill...I can just about zombie my way through the day as it is!

Has anyone started a new job after having a baby? I just feel like all my confidence is gone (not to mention none of my work clothes fit me at all). I just feel shit!

OP posts:
Original poster
enbh · 14/09/2018 09:40

I do not know why my phone has deleted the paragraphs from my OP!! Confused

OP posts:
Pigsears · 14/09/2018 09:45

Was your role originally full time and you asked to move part time- so you still have the full time role?

Emmageddon · 14/09/2018 09:46

Are you positive it's their legal right to refuse to allow you back part-time? That sounds harsh. Are you in a union? Also contact ACAS.

As for work clothes not fitting yet, buy a couple of cheap outfits for the interim - charity shops often have barely worn office wear for a few quid.

Flowers
LoveAGoodChat · 14/09/2018 09:49

I would check your rights op, ask your friends who work there to see if they can sneakily find out. If they are hiring anybody for the position you have been let go from,

Fatted · 14/09/2018 09:49

Do you not still have a full time role to go back to?

Check the conditions of your contract re maternity pay. Most employers state that you have to return to work for a certain period of time otherwise you will have to repay any maternity pay you got over SMP. Do you have any annual leave owed that you could take during any notice period or that would let you return FT but take off a day or two a week?

I started a new job after having my youngest. It was still within the same organisation though. It was tough and looking back now my confidence was pretty shite at the time. But I settled in, got on with it and did the job.

TheWinterofOurDiscountTentsMk2 · 14/09/2018 09:52

Post is confusing. Are you full time, denied part time and so have quit your full time role? That's not them letting you go.

Gracie2906 · 14/09/2018 09:54

Can’t you go back “full time” and use any annual leave you have accrued whilst off to work “part time@ until you find something more suitable?

Joinourclub · 14/09/2018 09:55

Personally I would go back full time and try to make that work for as long as possible. I think I’d find that no harder than starting a new part time job, where nobody knew me and I needed to work hard to make a good impression whilst feeling like a zombie. At least in your existing job you will have built up some goodwill, so even though you are full time, hopefully people won’t resent you when you walk out the door at bang on 5.

leghairdontcare · 14/09/2018 09:55

I would see if you can go back full time if you can arrange childcare as it will be difficult to find a brand new part time job.

Original poster
enbh · 14/09/2018 09:56

Sorry to be unclear, yes I still have a full time role I could go back to but it's 40 hours with lots of overtime and I can't afford the full time childcare.

Oh yes, they have employed my boss's daughter full time to do my job!!! But no, the reason they have given is that it's not fair for the rest of the department for me to go part time. I was the only full timer in the department. That is a valid reason according to ACAS. Plus I work for a solicitors so they know what to say to not drop a bollock so to speak!

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 14/09/2018 09:58

They haven't let you go if you have chosen not to return to your full time role. Has your employer given the business reason to n for the refusal of part time hours? It could be that the business simply can't accommodate any more part time employees. Your colleague's status re dependents isn't relevant I'm afraid as everyone since 2014 has had the right to apply for flexible working and presumable her application was accommodated on business grounds at the time.

ilovesooty · 14/09/2018 09:59

Sorry cross post there.

WhitefriarsDillyDuck · 14/09/2018 10:00

Full time childcare is usually cheaper per hour than part time. Are you sure that you cant afford it? Are you eligible for any tax credits etc?

Original poster
enbh · 14/09/2018 10:01

Yes sorry they aren't letting me go as in making me redundant...sorry I'm shattered today my post is very confusing!

I have quit my job just to be clear. They got boss's daughter in to cover my maternity leave and are keeping her on. Don't need to pay back any maternity as I only got the normal SMP.

OP posts:
Original poster
enbh · 14/09/2018 10:04

I just wondered if anyone had started
a new job after maternity and had any words of encouragement!

And yes, thank you to the PP who mentioned charity shops, I've got a few bits from eBay...just feeling very frumpy looking which is making my confidence nosedive even quicker!

OP posts:
Original poster
enbh · 14/09/2018 10:06

ilovesooty no, I know colleague's part time status doesn't come into it, just feeling a bit down and think surely a baby trumps a dog! It's nothing to do with me of course but I reserve my right to moan and feel crap and eat biscuits!

OP posts:
Pigsears · 14/09/2018 10:07

so have you resigned then? I am a bit confused. I thought that an employer needed to offer you a similar role on your return. What have they offered you? I understand the boss' daughter is doing your old role now.. but the role will take up on your return?

Depending on what your role is, how easy to find something else and the child care cost delta- I would weigh up options of staying FT in current role whilst looking for pt role--- or just resigning and then looking for pt role. it depends on a lot of variables (including how you would get money during job search period
)

Holidayfromreal · 14/09/2018 10:09

Are you bothered what you do? Do you want to stay working for a solicitor or something similar? There are lots of part office jobs around here, not very mentally taxing just normal admin stuff maybe you would find that easier for the next year or two until baby is sleeping properly and you feel human again.

You'll be ok though OP Smile

BarbarianMum · 14/09/2018 10:10

I'm sorry this has happened to you. I will say that even organisations that are generally v accomodating w employees work patterns do eventually get to the point where they have to say no to some people's requests or the wheels come off. Then they look like the bad guys because they said yes to so many other people. Organisations that are just totally inflexible on the other hand, dont seem to have this problem.

TacoFriday · 14/09/2018 10:11

Have you actually seen any part time jobs? I’m guessing you’re in a PR/marketing role if you’re doing a lot of overtime on a 40+ hour week. Sounds like they shouldn’t have allowed a couple of the jobs to go from full time to part time, if the person in your role had to pick up the slack and do overtime.

Also not sure why you didn’t see it coming, unless you were hoping they’d do a job share?

ShalomJackie · 14/09/2018 10:11

The fact that they have employed a new full timer to fill your role after you chose to resign actually adds to their case that the role is a full time one. It matters not who thsy chose to employ whether a relative or Susie up the road!

Yes it will be tough to start a new job with a baby especially if you have to leave if baby is ill etc as you haven't built up the goodwill as you would have with an existing employer. As you mention the cost of childcare is an issue I assume you may be support staff rather than fee-earning. Maybe look at working in a legal department of a local authority?

TacoFriday · 14/09/2018 10:14

“think surely a baby trumps a dog”

When I read some of the posts in the Doghouse section, I get the impression some posters would argue with you on that Grin

Original poster
enbh · 14/09/2018 10:14

@Holidayfromreal yes I was thinking the exact same thing. Might be worth looking into a job I can 'leave at work' if such a thing exists! I don't want one as stressful as my old job if I can help it. Can't be doing with hours of unpaid overtime or anything like that anymore!

OP posts:
Pigsears · 14/09/2018 10:15

ahhh cross post...

so... yes. I had to look for new role too... I second going and searching ebay charity etc for new fitting clothes. hair too always made me feel more professional.
the search is hard with baby too- try and arrange with a friend to swap care for a morning so you can make calls etc or network (coffee with prospective / helpful people etc).
tell people you are looking. tap into all your old contacts etc
make it clear what you are looking for- ie know yourself what your ideal role would be etc
you can do this. :)

DarlingNikita · 14/09/2018 10:18

surely a baby trumps a dog!

No. Not in any way that matters or makes a difference to you.

But anyway. I don't know what you do, but is it something you could do from home? I'm thinking of jobs like virtual assistant, which people can very easily do remotely. I think people in these kind of roles also often have a few part-time clients so as not to have all eggs in one basket. (I'm not assuming you are an assistant/PA, it just comes to mind as a job model where the hours and terms can be quite flexible).

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