Advice on returning to work after mat leave

[germanshepforever]

I posted this in parenting but thought I would post here too… thabkyou in advance

I am due back at work next week after mat leave,
I put in a request for flexible working in may,
this has been followed with no communication from my work unless I chase to ask questions where in response I get don’t knows or nothing has been approved yet. I had a phone call off my manager today who said they can accommodate me for two weeks, I said and what will happen after the two weeks, she replied she didn’t know as she is waiting for replies from HR. It has been 6 months since I first made my manager aware i wanted flexible working and 5 months since I applied for them officially. The hours and days I have asked for already excist a lady who has just moved positions used to work them so technically they’re free to be taken up. I have no idea what to do now the stress is really affecting me I am having panic attacks. My union are fully backing me and I am in two minds to just not return as they are making it so difficult for me I want to go back to work but I feel as thought I am being pushed out. Any advice would be helpful please no sarcastic or nasty comments I am already in a vulnerable place atm.

I also work for a big company who is well known across the uk so they definitely know the law and their obligations

So you applied five months ago but your employer has not given you a decision yet? They should have followed these steps and made a decision within 2 months. I suggest you call the Pregnant Then Screwed helpline.

pregnantthenscrewed.com/tips-for-making-a-flexible-working-request/

@ElleneAsantohello, yes thats correct I applied for them in June, I have been chasing them ever since for a response and they just tell me that nothing has been approved yet. I will call them today Thankyou.

I'm a bit suspicious of your manager saying it's stuck with HR. Generally speaking, HR don't approve these - it's for the manager/head of dept to decide whether or not it can be accommodated (HR may advise them on legal grounds for refusal/the process). I suspect your manager has just sat on it.

I'd put in a complaint/grievance direct to HR around not getting a response within the statutory deadline.

@Redflagsaboundedthank you for response, I was told by my union reps that my manager agreed to the flexible working back in July in a meeting with my union reps, (I wasn’t aware of this agreement until this week) however since then she has then back tracked and won’t give the reps the minutes/ notes from that meeting. I just have no idea what she is playing at or why she is behaving this way towards me.

Put in a grievance about the lack of response to meet the legal deadline for these in that case.

I would submit an official greivance and I would return then go off sick due to work related stress.

Thankyou for the advice I have a drs appointment next week am going to sign off sick the anxiety of grievance procedure as well is causing me a lot of stress on top of not having any set childcare for my baby as I’m not able to plan

Can you ask your union to host a meeting on teams? This should of been done by now.

But if you’re meant to be going back to work next week, what were you planning to do about childcare, surely you would have needed to arrange days etc months ago to get a space with a childminder or nursery?