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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Is it true that my boss can't start recruiting my cover until I hand in MatB1 form?

26 replies

Notamumyet81 · 27/04/2015 13:02

Hi All - my question is just the above really.

I'm currently 21 weeks pregnant. I let my boss know over 7 weeks ago and also mentioned that I wanted to go on maternity leave from July.

Basically I have a v stressful job - tbh I burnt out around 9 months ago and would have quit to find something else if I hadn't got pregnant so quickly as the pressure here is unsustainable. I also have a long commute, my husband & I run a business at evenings/weekends, we recently moved house & still haven't unpacked due to renovating (ourselves), and I had a fairly traumatic miscarriage in October which left me tired & anaemic.

Because of this I want to finish up work ASAP & have time to destress/relax/get my strength back before baby arrives. The problem is my boss is saying that he doesn't think he can start recruiting until I hand in my matb1 form and has been asking for this for a few weeks. I explained I can't get it until my first midwife app after 20 weeks, which is next week at 22 weeks.

I work through the public sector and recruitment takes ages, so I'm concerned he's not going to have a replacement organised before the date I want to leave. I'm the only person managing/working on my project (crazy set up), which is worth a few million pounds with a number of buildings due to go on site by July ... I'm afraid I'm going to feel too guilty to leave when I want to and/or get the blame for my role not being filled before I leave because I 'didn't hand my form in' early enough & the repurcussions that will have for everyone with money tied up in this project. Although I want to leave this job anyway I'm afraid of the reputational damage of being seen to 'abandon' my project with nobody to take it on as I work in a small sector. Plus I guess I just feel really guilty/selfish for wanting to leave at 32 weeks if it causes people problems rather than hanging on a bit longer ...

Is my boss right in saying he can't start recruiting yet? I can't imagine why the matb1 form makes a difference to this ...

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AbbeyRoadCrossing · 27/04/2015 13:38

I'm not sure on the legality of it, bit even if he does have to wait he could start creating a job ad, reserving interview dates in diaries etc.

I had similar happen to me...told work at 8 weeks, due to illness and they hired my cover at 36 weeks. Problem was for them I'd had the baby! I wish I'd stuck up for myself and actually had some mat leave, so make sure you leave when you want. I was under pressure to stay and regret it now, and I never got to do the handover anyway as my leave automatically started when I gave birth

avocadotoast · 27/04/2015 13:54

I'm not sure tbh. Sounds like rubbish to me but maybe someone who actually knows what they're talking about will come along

Don't feel guilty for leaving at 32 weeks though, and definitely don't hang on to make life easier for other people. Your health and wellbeing has to come first!

AbbeyRoadCrossing · 27/04/2015 13:57

I forgot to say, don't feel guilty as you've given them loads of notice. Legally you can tell them you're pregnant at 25 weeks and leave at 29 weeks, so some employers will only have 4 weeks to recruit - the same as if someone hands in their notice. So don't feel bad, it's their responsibility, not yours.

dementedpixie · 27/04/2015 14:19

He's talking shite! The matb1 is only required to prove you are pregnant so that you can get maternity pay - it is not required for anything else.

dementedpixie · 27/04/2015 14:22

Also legally you don't need to hand in your matb1 until closer to the birth - within 21 days of the SMP start date

lexyloub · 27/04/2015 14:36

Technically they are hiring an extra employee not a replacement for you as they have to keep your job open for you for 12 months after you start maternity leave. Don't feel guilty about finishing early your main priority is you and your baby, your employer can find someone else to do your job you can't find someone else to carry your baby. You need to be a little bit selfish here if your employer hasn't found suitable cover before you leave on maternity that's their problem not yours

whittlefish · 27/04/2015 14:38

Nope that's rubbish as demented pixie says all your matb1 is for is so that you can reciece SMP. There is nothing to stop your manager recruiting your cover once you have formally told them of your pregnancy. I work in HR and have a similar thing in that my manager doesn't want to start recruitment for my replacement till end of May and I leave in July so there will be no hand over. God knows what her reason is. Anyway don't let your managers poor planning influence when you go off. Go when you feel you need to as he cannot stop you starting the leave when you feel you need to. I know what you mean about feeling guilty about leaving work your covers unprepared but you have to remember it's not the priority you and your baby's health are. If you were thinking of leaving anyway don't worry at all

MissTwister · 27/04/2015 15:02

Untrue. They hired mine weeks ago and I am 26 weeks now but not handed my MATB1 in yet. I don't believe you have to hand it in until 21 days AFTER leave starts.

MrsMillions · 27/04/2015 16:59

If you are in a recruitment freeze type environment I could understand HR refusing recruitment without proof of pregnancy, therefore that it is genuine mat cover not your manager seeking to boost team numbers. But don't worry. I'm on DC2 and not seeing midwife again until later on (fewer check-ups second time around), so they said I could ring up at 20 weeks and they'll put my MatB1 in the post. Do you think yours would do the same?

happygojo · 27/04/2015 17:22

I got told similar. That my line manager couldn't recruit my maternity cover until I had formally told them my plans for maternity leave. HR told my line manager. I told them last friday and I got my MAT1b form today to hand in.

Invizicat · 27/04/2015 17:26

It's not necessarily the law but is very likely in the public sector to be policy.

Obviously with money as tight as it is, they can't let managers recruit new people unless there is a vacancy. Until you hand in the form there is no vacancy.

Bustherb · 27/04/2015 17:28

I work in the public sector and it was the same for me xx

dementedpixie · 27/04/2015 17:39

But you can have maternity leave without maternity pay in which case they wouldn't need your matb1 as it is purely for maternity pay purposes.

You can tell them in writing what your maternity leave plans are in advance but don't need the matb1 until later on. They do not need a matb1 to be able to recruit maternity cover

LemonYellowSun · 27/04/2015 17:44

I work in the public sector and it is definitely not the case where I work. It's just for SMP. That's all.

ICantFindAFreeNickName · 27/04/2015 18:24

Don't let your boss guilt trip you into staying at work for longer than you want to. This will be the last time for a long time (it will feel like forever) that you wont have to have a child to worry about.
I left work 8 weeks before my first dc was born (was only meant to be 6 weeks but he was late) and it was one of the best things I did. I advise all my friends to leave early, if they can afford it.

MissTwister · 27/04/2015 18:46

MatB1s are purely to claim SMP. They are not needed to prove you're pregnant or for any other reason. They're mistaken

2015isgoingtobeBIG · 27/04/2015 18:47

I'm public sector and although I needed to hand in my form earlier than my midwife was due to give it to me this was required as proof to payroll to start organising my mat pay-recruitment to cover my post was completely separate although they did need to know my plans to know how much cover they would need. Like you, I was working on a specific project creating a brand new role. I was the person who knew best what that role required, the kind of oerson it would suit and was determined to be involved in the recruitment process so I could choose the right person and hand everything over to them. Unfortunately my manager procrastinated so long that the post never made it to advert before I went on mat leave. I was initially furious when it was clear she was procrastinating but as my mat leave got closer and it was clear I wasn't going to be involved my mindset changed and I just worked hard on writing the most in depth handover I could. I'm still miffed I wasn't involved but honestly as you get nearer to the time you want to finish you'll realise it's no longer your problem and your boss has to deal with it. I finished at 32 weeks after four weeks of two day weeks so my boss essentially had to start taking over my role from28 weeks-stopped her procrastinating!
Good luck-it us horrible when you want to help organise the cover but ultimately it really isn't your responsibility and you'll be amazed how quickly you forget about it all

Original poster

Notamumyet81 · 27/04/2015 20:31

Thanks for the responses everyone, really appreciate it - especially the 'it's their problem' type answers as I think I need to take a bit more of that attitude and not feel so guilty!

I've booked an appointment with my gp for later this week to see if they can give me the matb1 form prior to me seeing the midwife next week. At least then I'll have done my best to get the form to them ASAP. If they really can't start recruiting until I hand in the form then it sort of defeats the point of me telling them four months in advance to ensure a smooth handover. But again, if that is their policy then that's their problem not mine ... Must keep repeating this!

I totally believe what you say 2015isgoingtobebig - I'm sure once I'm actually off/it gets closer I won't care so much!

OP posts:

Kampeki · 27/04/2015 20:40

I am a manager. I am not allowed to recruit for a maternity cover post until HR have received the matb1. It is the policy in my organisation, and there is nothing I can do about it! It does sometimes mean that cover isn't in place as quickly as we'd like.

However, that isn't your problem. Ensuring that appropriate cover is in place is the responsibility of your boss, not you. As long as you comply with your company procedures, there is nothing that you should feel guilty about at all.

lordsandladies · 27/04/2015 20:45

Yeah it's bollocks.

And as the voice of experience you can do absolute everything, work yourself to the bone, give yourself no time off before baby. Leave everything perfect and if it's that type of organisation they will take take take and blame you anyway.

So don't do it. Enjoy your pg and new baby.

aletea · 27/04/2015 20:46

No that's nonsense. It might be company policy - albeit a daft one - but it's certainly not law.

BeanCalledPickle · 27/04/2015 21:33

I am public sector. I think it is helpful to do your bit and give as much notice of your intentions as possible. But that is it. I spent a lot of time worrying about who would pick up my work.

As it was no cover was arranged before I left, I ended up going two weeks early as a fire gutted my building and I started maternity leave by being evacuated down a fire escape!

To my knowledge the world hasn't ended. It's not how I would have chosen to leave things but there we are. I very much doubt it will be held against me and I doubt your situation will be held against you

Forgetmenotblue · 27/04/2015 21:41

I was public sector when I had Dc3. I gave 24 hours notice of going on maternity leave as I went to a consultant appointment and she advised me not to return to work. I was in a senior job and there was no one else of my pay grade to take over.

Not My Problem.

HR sorted it v quick and got someone to cover.,

Don't be bullied into staying longer than you want to. Your manager is paid to sort this kind of stuff.

NeophyteStarfish · 28/04/2015 13:10

Hi notamummyyet, I had this exact issue in my first pregnancy 2 years ago. My line manager insisted that HR wouldn't begin to recruit until they had my matb1 - and they didn't, leaving my team pretty anxious and having to interview at the last minute.

I'm pregnant again and planning to finish earlier this time. I worked up to 36 weeks last time but want to finish asap - 29 weeks, I think - this time (exactly to avoid starting on a project I won't be able to continue with), which could give them an even bigger headache. I'm planning to email HR, copying in my line manager, to tell them formally my intended date of commencing mat leave and telling them that it will be helpful to start cover recruitment asap so that my team and manager won't be caused difficulties. Then I'm going to try not to feel guilty!

Can you email them your formal intention to begin mat leave on a particular date and reiterate that you won't get the matb1 until 22 weeks and will let them have it then? Then you will have done everything you can. Your pregnancy shouldn't have to be extra stressful because organisations have ridiculous policies. Best wishes with everything.

pinkie1982 · 28/04/2015 19:55

I handed in my form at 25 weeks but my job had been approved and advertised and interview dates set up. I'm 29 weeks now and my replacement has been recruited and starts full time next week for me to train

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