Employer let me go...now what?

[enbh]

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!

I would say try and find something ASAP even if its not what you really want to do. The longer you are out of work the harder you will find it to get back, and your confidence will drop even further. My expert knowledge of Thomas the Tank Engine sadly doesn't make me very employable after 5 years out of work.

I work between child 1 and child 2 and looked for work when my eldest was about a year old (got pregnant on a temporary contract so had no job to go back to). It was hard but I found something within about 6 weeks of serious looking, although at a lower level than my previous job. However like you I needed part time so that was the compromise I went for. I got the job partly as I had worked with one of the interviewers before. So its possible, I did it. And at that stage my son was a terror, really hard work and didn't sleep well at all. So work was actually a really good break.

Hang in there, mate. I felt exactly the same when my first was 11mo. He wasn't sleeping, there was a childcare shortage and I could only secure one day of care per week. Work wanted me back full time, so I had to quit.

Two months later, a small non-profit fell in love with my CV. They let me start 2 days a week (I paid a nanny for a couple of months until the daycare found an extra day, ouch) and they were happy to wait until that third day popped up for me to go to 0.6FTE.

It was the perfect job for that time in my life. The pay was a bit low, but the flexibility and family culture just worked.

And kiddo started sleeping a few months later, thankfully.

If you’ve resigned you’re employer has not let you go. I think you do need to let go of your feelings about this and other co-workers bring employed part time. Everyone is entitled to apply for flexible working. It’s not their fault they already have it in place.
It does sound like the boss’s daughter was a shoe-in, but if you’d returned to your job, she wouldn’t have been given the job. She was your maternity cover and has the job permanently now you’ve left.
Good luck with your job search. Try to be positive about new opportunities rather than holding onto any resentment from your old job.

I think in reality no the dog doesn't trump the baby, they can't now change this woman's agreed hours because you had a baby and wish to go part time.

They are basically saying they need the role you did to continue full time. This is acceptable. You have resigned because you don't wish to be full time.

So now, get your cv out there, back away from the biscuits. I started a new job, albeit full time, when my daughter was nine months old. Just get applying, find a good interview outfit to give you confidence, places like Dorothy Perkins are good.

You can also try temping. Sign up to women recruitment agencies, you'll be fine.

shalomjackie I'm a trainee solicitor...I'm on £17,000 per year. They did say one day they might be able to offer me a training contact but it has remained elusive so far!

Sorry, sign up to some recruitment agencies, not sure where the women came from 🤣

I started a new job when DS was just under 6mo. It was absolutely fine. I work in local government and lots of my colleagues, including my line manager, had small children so it was very family-friendly. DH was deployed at the time and they were incredibly supportive and flexible. If I had a bad night with DS there was always sympathy (and chocolate) on tap. Good luck!

I got made redundant while on maternity leave. It wasn’t great.

Now what? I think you need to find another job! PT office work is hard to come by ime. What is it you do? Are you a solicitor or support staff?

Sorry x post! Maybe post this in legal? They might be able to help. Best of luck.

My daughter is training to be a solicitor, I very much doubt that can be part time. Are you saying others are?

Sorry how are you a trainee solicitor without a training contract? Are you a paralegal?

I think that, while they may well have taken great care to stay within the law, they haven't treated you very well. That could be about them, not about you. Just because you might not have a tribunal case doesn't mean you shouldn't feel upset/bitter about, so long as at some point you can think about what you need to do next. I'm sorry, it all sounds very stressful. Have you asked about references?

Had you arranged childcare for returning part time? Since you don't have a set return date any more, do you absolutely have to get another job on the date you planned to return, or is it possible to take a little extra time? Are you a single parent or do you have a partner and another income coming in?

How many of your PT colleagues are also trainees op?

As Bluntness says you are therefore not a trainee solicitor but possibly a paralegal. You should be very careful about holding yourself out as something you are not as it could lead to a discliplinary with the SRA and could prevent you fromqualifying or getting a training contract!

bluntness technically my job title is trainee solicitor but as I still haven't got a training contract I'm doing the same work as my two PT co-workers who are secretaries. I'm not doing any fee earning at the moment.

My title wasnt really the point of the post. It was more to hear from others who have been in the same boat or for words of encouragement.

My job title and contract state I am a trainee solicitor and was due to start a training contact the year I started but as we moved premises and had a general reshuffle (merger with two other firms) it got put on hold (it seems indefinitely) and I've been doing general secretarial duties ever since.

I just wanted a bit of a hand hold with starting a new role really, I'm not worried about getting in trouble with the SRA, everything is above board in that respect.

Ok, I don't understand that. It seems the job title and the role don't match. You're either a trainee solicitor on a training contract or your not. Once you've completed your two years you qualify. Assuming you've done your lpc or equivalent qualification.

If you're not doing fee earning work, then you are not a trainee solicitor, and if you're not on a training contract, you're not a trainee solicitor. I'm sorry, you're better off out of this, because it's not right. Your salary is also incredibly low. They are having you on, I'm surprised you don't know that? Without wishing to be rude. Even paralegals do fee earning work.

Find another job, this one isn't right.

shalomjackie I'm a trainee solicitor...I'm on £17,000 per year. They did say one day they might be able to offer me a training contact but it has remained elusive so far!

Had relative who had the same - found many of her firends had similar - in end she gave up went back to her old job in call center with a bank earned more and couple of up and then sideways moves has a quiet nice career.

Cross posted, ok they didn't meet their commitment to you, as such, you're better off out of it.

There is absolutely no reason despite whatsuckonTHATryan says to post this in legal.

They have considered your case and decided they cannot accommodate your request for part-time. It does not matter what hours other people do. That is for their role. The fact that your replacement is employed fulltime further supports their case that the role is fulltime.

You are a paralegal and this is fairly basic employment law which I think you realise. You are just upset that you do have to start over looking for an elusive part time job elsewhere and need advice or a pep talk as to go about this.

Unfortunately people who do not understand the law are jumping on the thread to say you have a case etc which you know yourself.

My advice is to contact legal departments in local authorities as I said above or companies with in house legal.or even private practice on spec. They may be busy but not have thought of taking someone PT but may if there is a CV there.

Under no circumstances state on.your CV that you are a trainee solicitor when you are not.

Perhaps the trainee-ship has to be full time?

I think it's unfortunate you have resigned as its harder to get a new job than return to an existing one. My contract ran out while I was on maternity and it took me ages to get a proper job again - also due to moving country (back to UK), bereavement and being SP

Anyway - see it as an opportunity. If you have your hands full with the baby (are you a single parent?) it might be a good idea to take a less demanding PT job for a while until you are up for more of a challenge.

elkiedee you have hit the nail on the head exactly! I know legally I have no comeback as they haven't done anything technically wrong. I just feel a bit disappointed and like my confidence has taken a bit of a beating. I just feel really overwhelmed thinking about the future. I know i'll be fine, just hopes to hear some stories to encourage me to embrace my new start rather than viewing it in a negative light!

Glad you are not worried about the SRA. Assume you no longer wish to qualify as a solicitor

This thread has just gone off on a tangent...I didn't mean to come across as something I'm not, I just wanted a wee bit of positivity.

I agree they have been taking the piss for a long time, but as I've been going through infirtilty treatment I just wanted to keep the job I had to keep life as 'normal' as possible. Better the devil you know and all that

Again, very sorry to say I'm a trainee solicitor when obviously that is just my title on my contract, company website etc when I'm not actually training yet. I will not say it anymore, and for the sake of the tread I'm support staff. I know my wages are very low, I took the job as training contracts are hard to come by as I live in a small Village with only a few solicitors forms.

Hopefully that sorts that part out if it was unclear.

@ShalomJackie what? I didn't mean it like that, bloody hell all I meant was I wasn't being deceptive in any way towards any regulatory body. God all I wanted was some kind words when I felt down, that's all. I wish I hadn't posted now I really do.