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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to lose my rag completely with my employer?

183 replies

Edumacator · 23/02/2023 13:16

I was a science teacher in a secondary school. When I fell pregnant, I told my employer early on because I had a high-risk pregnancy and needed lots of appointments as well as obvious issues of my role (chemicals, fire, fumes but also working in a school with poor behaviour and very frequent physical alternations and incidents). Within a week, my school posted an advert online for a new science teacher to start as soon as possible. I raised it and was told that they’re intending to expand the department - first time that’s been mentioned and the school isn’t growing in student numbers (it’s not a school of choice locally). Not to mention, they wouldn’t expand a department mid-year because they’d have to reshuffle all the timetables and room allocations etc. But, the state of teaching being what it is, they didn’t get any applicants so no one was hired. I’m currently on maternity leave and I won’t be returning - I have a job that’s not in teaching lined up. I just gave my employer my notice to leave at the end of the Easter holiday - giving the required notice. Just got my payslip via email and the bastards haven’t paid me anything this month. AIBU to be absolutely sick to death of this shit now?

OP posts:
HackAttack · 23/02/2023 14:03

I would but it was Bit dull

Viviennemary · 23/02/2023 14:03

Depends on the official date of the start of your maternity leave. Did you start your leave early. How can anybody answer if they dont know the details. And if you are entitled to the pay they can't just decide not to pay you. Are you in a Union.

AdInfinitum12 · 23/02/2023 14:03

HackAttack · 23/02/2023 14:00

You realise if you don't go back you pay back maternity anyway? Ffs

You realise that's definitely not true of statutory maternity pay and OP has said more than once she has not claimed enhanced maternity pay. So your entire sentence is incorrect and useless. "Ffs.."

Chickenly · 23/02/2023 14:03

HackAttack · 23/02/2023 14:00

You realise if you don't go back you pay back maternity anyway? Ffs

You realise you’re about the fiftieth person to incorrectly state that? Ffs

Coffeellama · 23/02/2023 14:05

HackAttack · 23/02/2023 14:03

I would but it was Bit dull

Click see OPs posts or don’t bother replying then, it’s a totally pointless contribution.

RamsayEaster · 23/02/2023 14:05

Surely a phone call to
your employer and this could all be sorted , just a thought

viques · 23/02/2023 14:06

Are you in a Union, the Burgundy Book rules are very clear so a Union adviser should be able to clear this up for you. Call your regional office, that way you will have some ammunition in your weapon of choice when you speak to your payroll people.

mincedtart · 23/02/2023 14:07

Edumacator · 23/02/2023 14:01

Do you have any actual reason why you think it’s wrong? Genuinely?

Show quote history

Supporting people for months on the understanding they’re coming back and then realizing last minute that I have to find someone new, onboard them to the role, figure out the knock-on effects on other teams, negotiate salaries etc, is super frustrating when I could have been doing so months earlier.

burnoutbabe · 23/02/2023 14:07

No idea on maternity pay but the tax thing makes sense if it is negative.

The tax system assumes you get whatever you get is sane for rest of the tax year. And now you get nil, it needs to refund you sone tax for that year. Hence you should receive can actual payment this month into your bank of the tax amount.

Original poster
Edumacator · 23/02/2023 14:08

viques · 23/02/2023 14:06

Are you in a Union, the Burgundy Book rules are very clear so a Union adviser should be able to clear this up for you. Call your regional office, that way you will have some ammunition in your weapon of choice when you speak to your payroll people.

Thanks, I phoned them and they just said to call them back if I’ve spoken to my school and they still refuse to pay me… not massively useful but I’m not sure what I fully expected to be honest. Never used them before.

OP posts:
Coffeellama · 23/02/2023 14:09

Edumacator · 23/02/2023 14:08

Thanks, I phoned them and they just said to call them back if I’ve spoken to my school and they still refuse to pay me… not massively useful but I’m not sure what I fully expected to be honest. Never used them before.

Show quote history

What more can they say when you haven’t checked if it’s an error or not yet? Are you going to contact payroll and ask?

Original poster
Edumacator · 23/02/2023 14:10

mincedtart · 23/02/2023 14:07

Supporting people for months on the understanding they’re coming back and then realizing last minute that I have to find someone new, onboard them to the role, figure out the knock-on effects on other teams, negotiate salaries etc, is super frustrating when I could have been doing so months earlier.

Show quote history

So, you just have a general issue with people leaving their jobs at the required notice then?

OP posts:
BumpySkull · 23/02/2023 14:13

Coffeellama · 23/02/2023 14:09

What more can they say when you haven’t checked if it’s an error or not yet? Are you going to contact payroll and ask?

Show quote history

I’m not massively invested but, in theory, they could’ve given advice on how best to contact or who to contact, they could’ve said if it’s a regular or rare occurrence, they could’ve indicated if there are any loopholes or exceptions to be aware of… there were plenty of options of things that they could have said.

viques · 23/02/2023 14:13

Edumacator · 23/02/2023 14:08

Thanks, I phoned them and they just said to call them back if I’ve spoken to my school and they still refuse to pay me… not massively useful but I’m not sure what I fully expected to be honest. Never used them before.

Show quote history

That’s a bit pants, I would have expected them at the very least to do a quick check that all the dates worked out. Hope you get it sorted. Enjoy the baby.

Viviennemary · 23/02/2023 14:14

You still haven't answered when your maternity leave started. This might be the explanation why they didn't pay you this month. It's either an error (in which case it will be paid) or you aren't entitled to the last payment.

cherish123 · 23/02/2023 14:18

Don't know specific details, but I would think you are due holiday pay.

2bazookas · 23/02/2023 14:18

Why lose rag?
Polite firm written reply "There appears to have been a clerical error on my recent payslip, could someone please check this and correct it please."

mincedtart · 23/02/2023 14:19

Edumacator · 23/02/2023 14:10

So, you just have a general issue with people leaving their jobs at the required notice then?

Show quote history

Yep, that’s the entire extent of it…

Nothing to do with someone agreeing to a start date, keeping up pretences that they’re committed to it for almost a year, while having zero intention of returning.

Chickenly · 23/02/2023 14:19

Viviennemary · 23/02/2023 14:14

You still haven't answered when your maternity leave started. This might be the explanation why they didn't pay you this month. It's either an error (in which case it will be paid) or you aren't entitled to the last payment.

Actually she did answer that. Why is everyone so bitchy and rude today?

ScramblePud · 23/02/2023 14:23

mincedtart · 23/02/2023 14:19

Yep, that’s the entire extent of it…

Nothing to do with someone agreeing to a start date, keeping up pretences that they’re committed to it for almost a year, while having zero intention of returning.

Show quote history

The employer agreed to a notice period. And, in teaching, a return date is decided with less notice than a leave date. So, all this committing for a year in advance is bollocks.

ShimmeringShirts · 23/02/2023 14:24

They can’t pay you minus, that means you’re due a tax refund not that they’ve charged you tax.

ScrantonDunderMifflin · 23/02/2023 14:25

This is insane how many people can't read the OP didn't claim occupational pay.

OP, I would imagine it's some kind of error with the payroll department? I'd contact them

Pinkdelight3 · 23/02/2023 14:27

They haven't refused to pay you yet. It's most likely an error.

The rag-losing seems to be anger about what happened in the first half of your post, but that also seems misplaced, as by your own account you told them you would be absent a lot and unable to cover some duties so they quickly got on with adding more staff. What did you expect them to do? Not have any teacher or back up plan while you were off or unable to teach?

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 23/02/2023 14:28

I honestly can't understand why you'd come to rant on MN and call your union before you have even asked your employer what's going on. Do you always over complicate things in this way?

If you had called your employer and they were refusing to pay what you were owed, then fair enough, but this just seems like an unnecessary drama when you might be able to ring up and get it sorted in 5 mins.

I just can't understand the mindset where talking to your employer wouldn't be your first response.

Mustnotbeleftblank · 23/02/2023 14:30

YANBU to be pissed off. It is not ok for any employer to not pay SMP or any salary you are entitled to. Might be worth contacting Pregnant then Screwed for advice about them trying to replace you when you were pregnant too, has the whiff of constructive dismissal about it.