Pregnant whilst covering mat leave

[Isitme131]

Hi!

work in the nhs (have done continuously for 5 years so I definitely qualify for maternity leave).

just wondering what happens to the job…the person I’m covering is on maternity leave for one year, I have just found out that I’m pregnant. There’s a 3 month gap between me leaving and her coming back?! Do they get someone to cover?? It’s a very short time but a very heavy caseload

Obviously will ask my manager but I haven’t told her yet 🤦🏼‍♀️

I think it depends, are you seconded into this maternity cover - ie you have a previous permanent role you would return to? Or is this a fixed term contract?

Oh sorry do you mean what happens about the cover in the job? I think it will depend on what your managers decide to do... I would imagine the most likely scenario is that the post is just left unfilled for 3 months and others in the team pick up work as needed?

Yeah the job, it felt like an amount of time that would be very hard to fill with another person. No one would want a job 3 months 🤦🏼‍♀️

I also work in the public sector and have had this scenario twice in the last couple of years in the same role, we've just had to muddle through. No one wants a 2/3 month post. It is what it is! There were some jokes made about not wanting to sit at that desk but it was all light-hearted and all got lovely mat leave gifts.