Issue returning to work after mat leave

[heyjoeyitsestelle]

Can anyone shed some light on this?
I am due to return to work after mat leave soon. They hired someone to cover my job whilst I was on mat leave.

My boss has just said 'we have managed to keep my replacement for and extra 3 months so be good'

Why? Why would they be keeping her?
I have reduced hours by one day on return and it's on a 3 month trial basis. Aibu to think they are keeping her on so they can tell me my hours aren't working out??
How do I prove I can do my job in less hours if there are 2 of us there?

I want to ask him these questions but don't know how to go about it?

Sorry, don't know the legalities, but have you done your KIT days? How did they go?

Yes did my KIT days everything was fine.
I'm hoping I'm just panicking over nothing

What does "be good" mean? Be good or we will keep them and not you?

I wouldn't worry about it.. my maternity cover stayed on for an extra few months to help me with the transition back and so I could get back into my flow..

Do you have that in writing, the 'be good'

Sounds like an off the cuff comment, joke that didn't work. I really wouldn't worry about it!

My maternity replacement stayed on for a few months after I came back in May. They only finished up last week. They had worked out well so our department kept them on to do some additional work and I went back into my old role.

My maternity cover was kept on and to be honest it was awful as she wanted my job and I always felt like I was being watched. Rumours made their way to HR that I didn't want to be there and I wanted to quit which were completely unfounded and I was called to an HR meeting to explain myself. We did eventually become friends but only once she and my employer accepted that I wasn't going anywhere.

I think you are reading to much into it.

Same situation here. I'm due to return from mat leave in November and my cover is being kept on. She's done a good job whilst I've been off and I don't doubt that.

I would ask your manager straight why she's staying on a bit longer. In my case it's because someone else in our department is on mat leave and rather than replace them directly it was easier to keep my mat cover on for 6 more months. I'm riddled with anxiety about going back and missing out on opportunities/promotion, but I think that's more to do with my own paranoia.

Hope you are in a union.
If not go to the highiest personal dept and sort asap.