I've tried to be brief!
I've got a new dream job (yay) in a different area of education at a school I have longed to work at that is closer to home and generally all good. I have been on maternity leave. The new job was too good to not to apply for but meant that I went for interview within a week of returning to work and handed my notice in after 5 days. (Not a great employee).
I handed in my notice in (over half a terms notice as per) but was told I can't leave until 30th April (9 days into summer term). Consulted my union (who said it was legal but very unreasonable as it had an adverse affect on my carer/new school etc) and went back to the head who agreed to let me go at the end of term BUT I will have pay back all of my (additional) maternity pay. Because Easter is early this year I will have only done 11weeks with my school not 12. They cannot tell me the exact cost but it will be well over a months full pay. They know I can't afford to pay this on top of the nursery fees I will have to pay whilst I come in to work.
Whilst they are within their rights to do this - is it reasonable? The pay back clause is there to stop me not returning to work. It's not like I'm leaving the profession. Do I not get some credit for returning for 11 weeks? Could I pay back 1/12 of my maternity pay? The job I applied for and got was all after I returned to work - not a secret plan all along and am working my notice period. If this was last year it would have been 12 weeks but as Easter is early this year it is not....
I feel like it is a punitive fine from the head and tbh I don't really see why. Surely it is better to let me go happy and hard working at Easter rather than threaten me and receive 9 days extra of my dragging myself into school? My school is in special measures, it is tough and we all work hard everyday to make it difference. It requires a lot of above and beyond effort that I will struggle to find knowing that I am letting down my new class in my new school. I don't want to threaten work obviously (and I have no idea how to say that without it sounding like a threat!) but how much of a difference does 9 days make? Are they just trying to punish me?
Wwyd?
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They won't let me leave.....
13 replies
JustWhenIThoughtIWasFree · 14/02/2015 15:53
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