Is maternity leave an acceptable reason to close department of volunteers?

[Monica87]

Hi. I recently started my maternity leave from a voluntary job in a charity. My department has just been closed down and one of the reasons for this was me going on maternity leave. Is this an acceptable reason? I'm only a volunteer and not an employee so not sure if the same rules apply?

Thank you for any help. M.

If it’s voluntary it’s not a job - you aren’t an employee and you can’t be on maternity leave.

Do you mean that the company will no longer take on volunteers, and they have cited you going off as one of the reasons why?

Presumably framed differently, such as they've done a review of the requirements due to one volunteer needing time off, and have decided that it's no longer viable/necessary/etc?

You're not on maternity leave. You're just not volunteering at the moment.
If they dont have enough volunteers then they need to close so of course it's a valid reason. Do you expect them to magically keep it open so you can return when you want too? It's not a job. You dont have rights like that. They cant magic up money to pay for a replacement or forcibly enlist someone to take your place so they need to close.

As a volunteer Indont think you have any protection regarding your volunteering position still being there when you want to go back.

Okay, thanks everyone. I wasn't sure so wanted to check. I don't expect them to 'magic' anything up and they have others who could cover my role but they have used me as an excuse.

And they call it 'maternity leave'.

:)

They can call it potatoes, it is not maternity leave. Also, volunteers should not be used to fill a post or a role that needs doing. They are taking the piss and you are not on maternity leave