Calling all HR people....

[pinkpepperclove]

There seems to be a bit of a grey area at my company when it comes to maternity leave and returning my equipment (Laptop/Phone).

Boss wants it returned - with no explanation why. I am reluctant as it stops me from accessing my payslips, company benefits and more importantly, using for KIT days.

This has been a drawn-out affair which has now got P&O involved (no word from them yet on the official position) however I can't see any policy in place to state I must return it.

Am I within my rights to say I want to keep my equipment for the above reasons (there's no way I can access my payslips outside the company system)

I feel I am a full-time member of staff still and should be treated as such, particularly with KIT days... even common sense says I can't work if everything is returned!

Feeling very put out by it all - I am not prepared to use my personal electronics to carry out work for this company, feels like a level of discrimination when other team members have been able to keep theirs for a whole year for the exact reasons I have given.

It seems a bit odd if you're intending to return after mat leave. By P&O do you mean HR?

On the subject of your payslips if you can't access company systems remotely can you download the ones you have and get payroll/HR to send them to you?

Your employer must provide you with payslips :
https://www.acas.org.uk/payslips
https://www.gov.uk/payslips

so if you can't access them online they must send them to you.
I know that is only one part of your question but that part is clear.

Thank you - this is great. Also, a number of our benefits would be made unavailable to me which doesn't seem fair

Yes HR/ P&O same thing at our place. Pleased I am not the only one who finds it of concern.

Not sure what the answer is but I went on Mat leave with one company who asked for the same.

So I dutifully handed it back.

And I was passed over for promotion because I didn't receive the interview invitation, sent to my work email and dealt with all via the intranet which I had no access to.

Apparently they should have communicated this to me externally but never did.

So yeah in hindsight I wouldn't have given it back either. But my cover was using it.

What benefits will you lose access to?

As above, if you can't access payslips they will have to send you copies each month.

In terms of KIT days I believe the company has to also agree to you using these, I don't think the employee can unilaterally decide they're using them. Is it possible they don't want you using KIT days and therefore won't need your equipment for that period?

Oh and yes I would push to keep your laptop and ask for the rationale for his request that you return it.

Is he a bit of a control freak or just an idiot?

Do you have a wfh contract? If not, it’s reasonable for them to expect you to go into the office to access the benefits and information you require.

They can post you payslips and you need to agree KIT with your manager.

I’ve known company’s take kit back, for Information Security issues. If your kit isn’t regularly being used it can miss critical updates.

At the end of the day it’s not your kit, it belongs to the company. As a company asset, they can decide where it is best kept.

However, they need to ensure that you do not miss out on any information you may need, whilst you are off.

Do not conflate the two things

I worked in HR for years and never came across this. They legally have to provide you with payslips, so they need to find a solution to that for starters. Do they want to give your equipment to your maternity cover? What is the actual reason given for wanting the return? Or are they just sticking to "we need it back"? With no policy in place regarding this and with you not being able to access KIT days and benefits plus payslips, I would say you will end up winning this one.
As a now business owner, I wouldn't ask an employee to return their equipment for maternity leave.

What does that say about a company that is already putting those boundaries in place before they have even happened? (Not a challenge to you)

Just think it doesn't feel very inclusive what will be a working mother. Does mutual decision mean nothing? Also, he could well not want me to do them which is WHOLE other issue in itself.

Thank you for your insight - I have had very similar thoughts. Good to know it's not a typical request.

Totally agree on the company owning the property - I wouldn't contest that. The why is probably what we are missing

I gave my work laptop to the person covering my mat leave to use while I was on leave. I got a better one when I came back. However , I didn't need it to do anything while I was on leave, so the situation was a bit different.

Do you work from home OP? Or hybrid?

Have they taken laptops from anyone else while out on maternity? Do they take them from someone off on long-term sick?

https://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/article/1741340/benefits-bonuses-women-maternity-leave

some advice here .....

Not HR but preparing for someone about to go on mat leave in my team.

IT have agreed to her keeping her laptop. Everyone else I know has handed it back in though.

I, however, have asked she hands her work mobile phone back so that we can make sure her cover can pick up any calls. That's more for continuity and safeguarding, as well as it being of no benefit to her whilst on leave.

Our company always looked for it back citing security reasons .

Nope - every person who I have asked were all allowed to keep theirs!

Interesting about long term sick... I don't know of that happening either.

Our phones and laptops are connected - you need the phone to authenticate access to the laptop email (security thing)

We ask for equipment while on maternity. We have to pay for equipment (including phones and laptops) out of dept budget. When someone is on maternity their mat cover needs equipment so they use the laptop and phone of the person on maternity leave. It’s role equipment rather than individual’s equipment.

we can access pay slips on an app though and Kit days you’d be provided with a generic laptop that the organisation uses for interviews or emergencies if someone breaks and there’s a gap purchasing.

Hi @pinkpepperclove

firstjy, you should be able to access everything I.e. any internal roles advertised, have some access to payslips etc.
it seems entirely unfair what your boss is doing and he/she may just be very paranoid/incompetent.

speak to ACAS - get advice.
speak to your HR.

it’s likely you won’t even access anything but access should not be taken away, you’re still an employee.

is the issue that the cover for you will need your laptop? Because I’m sure that would breach some data laws.. best thing to do is chat to HR and ACAS.

I had an incompetent manager once upon a time and he had to be educated on a fair few things. You wonder how these people become managers in the first place.

Do a little digging!

Her employer can send any internal roles to her personal email address, which is a standard adjustment and can provide printed payslips (or sent to personal email also).

What sort of "data breach laws" are you picturing here? The phone and laptop are company property so there should be none of the OP's personal data on it anyway, but the company can give the laptop to another employee if they wish.