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Original poster

Not returning to work after mat leave

35 replies

Cchloe7849 · 14/04/2020 17:07

Hi all

I am due to return to work in a few weeks. I worked full time before I went on mat leave and have requested to drop down to part time when I return so I can leave my baby with family members 2 days a week. I have been told that my request has been refused and I’m not not able to go part time I have to go back full time. The issue is I don’t have childcare for full time! Especially right now during the pandemic because the family who were going to look after baby whilst I worked, now can’t as we are social distancing. Partner is working from home and was going to work around little one whilst I worked 2 days a week until we’re back to normal and family are able to look after her whilst we both went to work. I’m now totally lost at what to do. We can’t afford nursery. Has anyone ever found themselves in a position where they are physically unable to return to work after mat leave and did you still have to pay it all back? I know you don’t have to pay back SMP but employers make you if you don’t return for 3 months.

OP posts:
Yerroblemom1923 · 14/04/2020 17:10

Can't your partner have the baby while they're working from home? And assess the situation once this madness has passed...

LIZS · 14/04/2020 17:10

Can you use accrued leave to shorten your working week? You would only repay any employer enhanced maternity pay over smp. And then only if it was stated as conditional on return before your ml started.

Jessie9323 · 14/04/2020 17:13

Have they given you a reason why you can't drop hours? Usually companies want to come across as very family friendly

AprilFloundering · 14/04/2020 17:17

We can’t afford nursery.

You seriously only just figured this out? Hmm

I think you're going to have to make it work for as long as you can with your DH working from home.

okiedokieme · 14/04/2020 17:21

Not working at all surely leaves you worse off than nursery??? Have you factored in tax relief on fees etc?

It's always expensive for the first 3 years (so typically 2 years of paying full fees) but keeping your career on track will pay dividends later

Original poster
Cchloe7849 · 14/04/2020 17:23

Don’t want to mention who I work for on here but yes they do come across ‘family friendly’ which is obviously bs. The reason it has been refused is because there are already part time staff and they need full time... my partner is working from home right now so could have baby whilst I worked full time but he wouldn’t get much done looking after her is a full time job itself. And yes I have accrued annual leave but have to take it all in one block which I am taking before I return

OP posts:
Tattiebee · 14/04/2020 17:28

Paying back mat pay really depends on your contract, the vast majority stipulate that if you don't do a return of service you have to pay back the enhanced pay; but they can waive it if they want to (whether they will is another matter). Would you be happy working full time once this is 'over'? Would they consider extending your mat leave? It would be zero pay, but it might give you some time to look for something else more suitable whilst have a safety net. Although it can be nerve wracking when you aren't 100% sure what you want to do, have you spoken to HR yet? That's probably worth a go, do you have the option to WFH at the moment? I was granted extended mat leave because it was too much trying to work from home with DH away and DS at home.

Sleepyquest · 14/04/2020 17:31

Can you ask to be furloughed for the time being?

MrsJoshNavidi · 14/04/2020 17:34

Did you never consider a plan B for if your parents were ever unable to look after your baby? It could have happened at any time, and not just be down to Covid.
If your employer wants a full time employee, then that's what they want. You should have talked that through with them before now too, and not waited until last minute. You don't have a right to work p/t, only a right to ask for this arrangement.

You're going to have to do what lots of other working parents do, and pay for child care. I'll mean your disposable income is less, but only until your child starts school. It's worth it in the current climate, just to keep your job, even though you might only break even in the short term.

Original poster
Cchloe7849 · 14/04/2020 17:34

Honestly I never thought me returning part time would be an issue. Lots of people have come back from mat leave and sick leave on reduced hours and it doesn’t seem to have ever been a problem but now I’m trying to get it it’s apparently absolutely impossible to give me. Nursery would cost A LOT and wouldn’t even be worth me working would be nearly my monthly wage. I would have to work for 8 weeks full time before I could leave without paying anything back. Obviously willing to but it would be an extremely hard 8 weeks. Can’t work from home due to the kind of job. I will keep pushing for part time hours but my boss seems very against it. Thanks for replies

OP posts:
Tattiebee · 14/04/2020 17:43

Do you have an appeals process? I used to process a lot of part time and flexible working requests, and there was a very formal process, and people could contest the decision. In honesty it was hardly ever overturned, but it did have an additional layer of consideration and feedback and reasons had to be provided to the employee. Depending where you work, could you do a sideways move into a different role? Given the circumstances you might have a bit more luck having the repayments waived if it's really not workable, it's worth an ask. Good luck, it's stressful and the job market isn't looking good at the moment so unfortunately as you know.

MrsJoshNavidi · 14/04/2020 17:45

Nursery would cost A LOT and wouldn’t even be worth me working would be nearly my monthly wage.

Still worth it though, if you're thinking about the long term and not just the short term. Make sure you're looking at the joint income here, and not just whether it's worth you returning to work. You both made the baby.
Your salary, and your partner's will increase over time, and you'll be more likely to be promoted if you stay in the job you have.

Would you both be able to do 4 days a week instead of you doing 3? That might be more attractive to your employer? Or extended days? So 5 days' hours worked over 3 or 4 Days for example.

You need to think of all the different ways you could make this work for your employer, so that when you ask them why they've refused your request, you can demonstrate that you've thought of how that objection can be overcome.

LIZS · 14/04/2020 17:51

Is that 8 weeks after your al is used or could that count towards it?

lovelydream · 14/04/2020 17:55

Try childminders they are much cheaper than nurseries

Sorry to say but you shouldn't have relied on being given part time hours on your return especially if lots of people are already working those shifts - at some point businesses have to take a stance that they need the continuity of full time employees

Once furlough ends many companies have home working clauses which state you cannot work from home in place of childcare- it's not fair on the employer or the child so you can't rely on husband watching the child either

Original poster
Cchloe7849 · 14/04/2020 17:56

My A/L goes towards it so instead of working 12 weeks I’d only have to work 8 before leaving. Give in my notice after 4

OP posts:
LIZS · 14/04/2020 17:57

What is your notice period?

Original poster
Cchloe7849 · 14/04/2020 17:58

Notice is 4 weeks

OP posts:
PotteringAlong · 14/04/2020 17:58

he wouldn’t get much done looking after her is a full time job itself

Well yes, but literally 10’s of 1000’s of parents are currently in the same boat. Nurseries are closed at the moment, so it isn’t an option anyway. You and your DH will need to work around it. Can he work when you’re home? Before your DD wakes up etc etc?

Jessie9323 · 14/04/2020 20:51

Have you looked at a childminder? My
Husband and I work full time and we use family plus a child minder 2 days a week. She is much cheaper than a nursery and we feel she is better for our son

newbingepisodes · 14/04/2020 20:58

I think if your partner is WAH for covid this is the perfect opportunity to work your 3months requirement. Although why you didn't figure this out prior to having a baby is beyond me!

ScrumptiousBears · 14/04/2020 21:00

I work from home with my two DD. I start at 5am then work 4 hours until they get up. Spending time with them and work my other 4 hours in the late afternoon once they've sat down to watch some tv. It's tough but loads of us have to crack on in these circumstances.

Babyroobs · 14/04/2020 21:59

Have you looked into whether you would get any help with childcare costs through Universal credit ?

Original poster
Cchloe7849 · 14/04/2020 22:11

For people asking why I didn’t figure this out before we had our baby girl, the pregnancy was a huge surprise and I didn’t actually find out until I was 14 weeks pregnant. I wish I could of had a plan and would of liked to of actually left work and been able to have a few years off with her which is always what I wanted to do when we had children but sometimes things happen that you just can’t prepare for. We aren’t entitled to any benefits and have a mortgage to pay. Thank you for all the actual helpful comments and not just the ones telling me how unprepared I am and how I should of ‘planned for this’

OP posts:
ChipsAreLife · 14/04/2020 22:16

I feel for you it seems really harsh given the current situation. How do they expect you to get childcare?

nancyjuice7 · 14/04/2020 22:24

Do you want to go back to work?

It dosnt sound like the ideal situation that you had wished for. But you can apply every 12 months for flexible working I believe?
Most places would say no to 2 days but would they be okay with full time over 4 days? Then you only need childcare for 2 days pw.
Which with 20% Gov support is a lot lower than most people's childcare bill.

If you wanted to go back you'd make it work, but it sounds to me like your putting barriers there because you don't want to?
Maybe something think about

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