To delay my return to work after maternity leave due to Covid?

[ilikebigbuttsandicannotlie]

I had planned to go back at work after my second maternity leave when ds2 was 10 months old in September. Ds2 is now 5 months and to the lockdown and ds1 being home from nursery, he hadn’t had much one on one time. We also haven’t been able to attend his various classes, go to the farm/zoo together, baby play dates etc.

I just feel like he has missed out on a lot if fun stuff I was able to do with ds1. Due to the nature of my job, I’m being asked to confirm now when I will return (not entirely legal but I understand why). I’m not sure whether to return in September or go back after the full year in November.

I’m hoping that by the autumn, things will be a bit more normal so we can have a couple of fun months just the two of us before I return to work (I do 3 days of that makes a difference). The money isn’t an issue as such so, whilst it would be nice, it’s not a dealbreaker. Please help!!

YABU- stick to your plans and return in September.
YANBU - take the extra 2 months

Tia

@AnotherEmma Yes, I would go back after October half term. Where I am, it’s the last week of October so I would start back the first week of November.

On my days off, I attend classes but they’re for my toddler. You can bring a baby to a toddler class but you can’t bring a toddler to a baby class as they are noisy and can disrupt. I wouldn’t want to put ds1 in nursery for any more than his current 2 days (1 day is with grandparents) to be able to take ds2 to a baby class alone.

@SideEyeing most people I know have gone back right before a holiday so I don’t think it’s cheeky. We don’t accrue holiday like other people so it’s fair enough I think. Enjoy your maternity leave! Hopefully, at some point over the summer we can actually get out and about.

@OneandTwenty Of course a 5 month old can enjoy new experiences which I labelled as fun. Coffee with friends is a tiny part of what I was referring to.

Maybe this is clear but would you then be more than 12 months on mat leave? Because again maybe won’t really apply to teaching but I know right now in London in a corporate job I’d want to go back while my job is reasonably protected and I think that changes after a year? I forget how protected jobs are if you return between 6&12 months. I know you say you can afford it but you might not mean you can afford to not return at all.

@LaurieMarlow has it spot on.

And I totally get why you feel the way you do, btw.

A lot of posters are lonely and bitter and just come on AIBU looking for someone to spit venom at.

If you can afford it, and you’d like to do it, then absolutely do it.

It’s exactly what I have done! I have just told work I’m going back 7 weeks later than planned. I was due back 1 Sept but now going back 21 Oct.

I was worried about nursery, I want to do a thorough settling in and there’s more chance of that in late Sept/early Oct than beginning of Aug.

@timeisnotaline I would have exactly a year off as I went off at the end of October last year. I wouldn’t be taking more than the year entitlement by law so my job should be protected. I’m needed back as we’re not understaffed and if not they wouldn’t have enough teachers to teach all of the year groups. As a result, they would need to get a supply teacher for the first half term of the year to cover me.

"I forget how protected jobs are if you return between 6&12 months."

The first 6 months are "ordinary maternity leave" and if you go back within that time, you have the right to exactly the same job.

Anything between 6 and 12 months is "additional maternity leave" and you have the right to go back to a job but not the exact same one.

It doesn't seem particularly relevant for a teacher though since they are surely very likely to be needed in their actual role!

I didn’t realise that beyond 6 months you weren’t entitled to the same job back

You usually are, but in some cases your employer can give you a different one.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/rights-at-work/parental-rights/maternity-leave-your-options-when-it-ends/#h-returning-to-your-job

Must be same pay and conditions though which is good

I think extend your maternity leave and enjoy the extra time with your baby.

I would definitely take it! Enjoy the time with your baby. I took longer with my second maternity leave. Time felt more precious somehow and I knew how hectic would be working with 2 dc.