To be really annoyed and frustrated? (work related and a bit long)

[GetThePartyStarted]

Long time lurker, first time poster so be a bit gentle

Just to set the scene, I am ridiculously broody but due to financial situation have to wait at least another year to TTC. Internal job vacancy was advertised which is much better pay, more interesting and I had a fantastic chance of getting, so I told my line manager and applied. Ideal solution thought I and started planning the nursery

For the last few months there has been a bit of a baby boom in the office where I work to the point where 9 members of staff out of 35 are now pregnant which has been a bit emotional TBH as although I am happy for them, I am also a bit . There is a hiring freeze, so while people will be leaving for mat. leave they can't be replaced.

Two weeks after I put my application in, my manager took me into an office and told me that although I could apply for the job, if I got it my release date would be.... Never! As they would then be too short staffed due to the mat leavers. Still, it would be a good experience for me she says, which is why she didn't discourage me from applying (and so getting my hopes up)

AIBU to be p***d off with my manager, and that I can't afford to have a baby because my colleagues are getting to have one?

Shineon - I expect it's not so much the cost of the baby as the cost of the childcare and paying for everything with the lack of salary that goes with time off or part time hours. I agree though - there is no perfect time but it is possible for the sums to add up better some times than others. anyway - the whole ttc thing (though very important to the op of course) isn't actually an issue here. The issue is that her manager is denying her a fair opportunity to apply for this job.

That sounds like grounds for a grievance to me! It is irrelevant what your colleagues have left to do - you cannot be denied an opportunity to develop your career and acheive a better salary because they can't get their act together to replace staff!

Can they do that? not release you I mean? Most places have a set period within which people must be released don't they?

You should go for the job. If you get it you should tell them that they must release you in a reasonable time frame or pay you what you would have been getting on the other job - otherwise you will have cause for a grievance. Is there a personnel dept you could speak to in confidence?

By the time you would be going on mat leave most of those who have been on mat leave should be returning surely?

good luck!

Make it clear that if you don't get it, you'll leave. That way they'll be short staffed either way.

GTPS - It seems like a reasonable size company, do you have an HR person you could go and talk to? Maybe as it is an internal position, it would it be possible for them to 'transfer' you to the new job and 'transfer' someone to your job, thereby not actually 're-hiring'?

YANBU - not in anyway, to be PO about this.

As an aside, having to wait to TTC for moneytary reasons is shite too - you have all my sympathy I'm sure you've looked into it as 'optimistically' as you can... however, I can't help but think 'there must be a way' for you to TTC NOW!!

sleepymommy - I like that idea