Returning to work after MAT leave

[Miraclemumtobe]

First post however I've been around for a little while.

My issue is shortly I will be returning to work after 6 months may leave.

Prior to going on leave I told my manager at 10 wks pregnant due to high risk issues in pregnancy and so that mat leave cover could be sought within plenty of time, my role is within a niche area of the Tech/IT industry and I'm the only person certified within my organisation.

There was no sense of urgency to get cover and all I was told was it was in hand...cue 6 weeks before leave begins and a junior administrator for my manager is to cover for me person is my managers right hand so to speak. Can't figure out the relationship between them for more than 2 years but he obviously has a soft spot for her (nothing untoward) she acts like she is senior but really is just admin based!

Ok, so I crack on with training, spend hours/weeks training for this person to turn around 1 week before I leave and say covering for me is not going to work out blah blah she just couldn't be bothered even though I spent months writing literal step by step processes (with diagrams/screenshots as that's what she asked for).
Anyway another internal admin based person was brought in, job was advertised externally & internally without my knowledge, previous cover person appointed to carry out interviews etc with no in put from me. My manager did not divulge any of this to me.

At this point I'm extremely disappointed & scared to go off on leave given my responsibility to the company (I'm responsible for £2 million+/year financially).

Anyway, at this point nothing I can do, it is what it is and I'm not going to let it worry me whilst I'm enjoying our miracle baby.

2 days before I left I stumbled upon that the person I trained is now my reporting manager!! F**king livid does not begin to describe how I felt.
I was not formally notified of this other than a new org chart being distributed.
This person is not qualified in the field with no certification or experience at all.

Oh and my manager gave me a very surprise bonus, clearly a sweetener!!

I've periodically checked in at work like emails etc, been called to sort out major issues which could have been sorted without my input but I've not minded helping.

I've now been informed the entire management structure has changed (perhaps for the better) however my reporting manager is still the same person & I'm now part of a team that was put together as I was leaving.

So my AIBU is how the hell do I bring this up in a meeting with my new director, who my reporting manager directly reports in to, without looking like a deranged diva?? Or AIBU to be pissed the way things have been handled?

Apologies for the lengthy post, I wanted to put in all the info so sound advice could be given.

Are you prepared to go back and see how it goes? Doesn't seem like your conditions/job/pay have changed (I think), just that you will be reporting into someone else. Give it a go and tell someone if it doesn't work?

I have to go back as we need the money. I'm on pretty decent wage and roles in this field are extremely few. A new job would mean a massive commute which isn't feasible.

Not sure if I should bring up my grievances on my return or just let it be.

Just to add, I have not been informed of any changes to my role, conditions etc but I'm nervous as there isn't enough work for 3 people essentially.
There was just me doing it previously.

It is common to have a wobble before returning to work after maternity leave, that is pretty normal in my (HR) experience.

However - all I can see here is that you don't want to report in to your new line manager. If you are the only certified person in your field in your organisation, that means your previous line manager wasn't qualified either. It's up to the company how they cover(ed) your maternity leave, so that isn't your issue either.

I can't see that the company has done anything wrong here tbh, OP, from what you've said.

I see how annoying this is as I will be returning to a similar change. All you can do is concentate on doing a good job and their failings will show.

I understand there are no legal issues here however I'm disappointed in the under hand tactics and deviousness.

I'm also disappointed as this team manager role wouldn't have existed if I didn't go off on leave but also that I'm not heading up a team given I'm the only experienced/certified person.

My nose has clearly been put out of joint so simply a case of sucking it up & getting on with it.

Well that's a much better way of putting it - as the only qualified person in this type of work, I am disappointed not to be the team leader. Rather than complaining that you have to report to someone who is not qualified. Focus on yourself, not on the others.

I still wouldn't make your return to work all about complaints though! I hope it goes well for you, it can be a daunting prospect.

Should the new role not have been openly advertised, so you could have applied for it? If so, you could query why it wasn't.

Could you ask for a meeting, and say you are disappointed the role wasn't advertised/offered to you, as you feel you are well qualified for it.? Ask them to explain to you how you fell short of the role requirements. Frame it as you wanting to understand what you need to do to get to the next level. It may make them realise you have an appetite for progression the next time something comes up. That is, assuming you want to stay there. Sounds like this person was always gojng to be favoured, though. It sucks.

I can totally understand that it may feel underhand, but that doesn't mean it is. I'd go back, catch up with what's happened and why and then see how you feel. Your anxiety is bound to be high at the moment, although that doesn't mean that they are trying to do anything bad to you.

Thank you all for the advice. I've definitely taken a different perspective on this issue with sound advice on how to proceed.

Big girl pants on (literally ) and deal with it like the professional that I am & not the hormonal, anxious, nervous wreck I'm feeling.

OP just to make this clear, someone last qualified than you is now your manager? Have I got that right?

Correct. My present manager has very little experience in comparison to my 5 years+ experience and I hold an international certification whereas my manager has received any certification or training

OP, going back after mat leave can be a shaky time. I'm in the midst of it now so I sympathise.

However, I don't see that your organisation has done anything wrong. Your role, responsibilities and requirements have not changed. Your line manager has, but that's no grounds for complaint. You clearly don't agree with the appointment, but the call wasn't yours to make as you weren't involved in the hiring process.

In many industries, qualifications aren't terribly relevant once everyone has proved they can do the job. She may have lots of other skills that the organisation values.

Well I'm going to go against the grain and say I can see why you're fucked off OP. This would absolutely stick in my craw and I'd be seriously considering my position in the company.

That said you'll have to see how it goes on your return.

Sorry, just to clarify, I do see why you're annoyed. But in the sense that anyone would be annoyed when someone they see as a less good employee gets promoted ahead of them.

The 'reasonableness' of this is impossibld for strangers to determine. Sometimes managers promote people unfairly, sometimes they make a good appointment on the basis of things that unsuccessful candidates won't readily see. None of us can make a call on what happened in this situation.

You're within your rights to ask whether you were considered for the team leader job and if not why not. But I can't see you getting answers that will make you feel better about the situation.

In the end, all you can do is go back and see how it's working. And if it's not working for you, leave.