To not feel guilty about maternity leave colleague

[NinePumpkins]

I have been off work due to chronic illness since November of last year - actually, my cancer was diagnosed just after I started in this job about 4 years ago, so my whole employment has been blighted by my illnesses (cancer now in remission, other stuff going on). Nevertheless, I enjoy the job when I'm able to do it - it's an administrative position.

Recently, redundancy proposals were announced at my company, and in my team the other 2 administrators at the level above and below me were put at risk. My role is to be continued. I've now heard it on the grapevine that one of the others, currently on maternity leave, is annoyed about the whole situation, and frustrated that we weren't all put in a pool for redundancy?? I'm sorry she's heard the news while on mat leave and sure that it's stressful, but I'm confident I can return to my position. AIBU for not feeling guilty about it? I'm not sure when I'm going to be able to return, and am currently on unpaid sick leave, but I know things will ultimately be resolved.

This.

I don't understand why you should feel guilty at all - you are not in control of the redundancy process or responsible for it.

You can feel empathy for her, or for anyone caught up in it, but I suspect your own position is vulnerable too (sorry!).

They can't make her redundant unless they are getting rid of the role she was doing. If you could just make people redundant when you wanted to replace them, where would we be? The lady on mat leave I feel for, it sucks but she can't expect the lady who's Job is not being removed to put her name in a hat and surrender her job. It's just not how redundancy works.

If the role is to continue, she cannot be removed via redundancy. It will need to be done via the sickness policy guidance and given that she's accepted unpaid leave to manage her sickness, whilst still possible to remove her on these grounds, it will be harder for them as she's done everything she can as an employee not to over burden them financially. They could also get in a temp to cover whilst she's off. It is not legal for them to make her redundant, whilst her position still exists. It must be done via the medical fitness route.

I know. You obviously haven’t read all my posts.

Thanks all who have commented constructively. Empathy not guilt 👍
I'm currently being signed off every 2 weeks by my GP. Now that it has been confirmed that both of the others will be made redundant, a temp will be brought in to cover for me.
Thanks @Mummy2024