Would you 'help out' after your mat leave starts?

[rubybambini]

I'm working on a project (for a large media org), that was supposed to launch in six weeks, but has continued now for five months, due largely to contract and rights issues (and not my area).

I go off on mat leave next week (at 37 weeks), project is unfinished and the product has suddenly hit some unexpected design issues (agency has gone a bit loopy, not briefed by me), which ordinarily I'd fix / sign off.

There's no replacement being taken on for my job, rather it's been divvied up between people where it can be. I think the dept head is seeing my being off as an opportunity to save money.

You can guess what's coming - my (generally very supportive) manager has suddenly asked if I'd mind checking over things after my mat leave starts. He's even offered to come to my house...

How would you handle this request?

Apart from up to 10 Keeping in Touch days (if mutually desired) you cannot work and still recieve Mat Pay AFAIK.

I might be happy to have a look at the stuff, as a favour, but it would depend on a lot of variables, like how old will the baby be? Or only before the birth?

I wouldn't dream of doing anything like work in the first 4-6 weeks, I couldn't even remember my PIN number after my first baby and had to cancel all my phone banking

I would talk to the manager, suggest that he ensures a member of the team is given responsibility for finishing the project.

When you have been up every hour with the baby and are a milky mess you may well feel that you don't give a shit about the project I know if my work had phoned to say they were desperate for help I would have thought, Oh dear, hope you get that sorted before I get back in a year's time.

Depends if you want to do it. How much time will it take? If its an hour or so once then I don't see the problem. Its an hour a day them I could.

In any case you can't work in the two weeks after giving birth as that is illegal ;)

Hello - thanks for replying.

I've mulled today, to be prepared for tomorrow - and it's not really my nature to say no to work requests, but I've decided to say 'no'.

I've realised it's a massive source of irritation to me that my perfectly profitable company hasn't seen fit to provide adequate cover, despite me saying again and again I really thought it necessary.

My boss is lovely, but I deeply suspect 'taking a look' will quickly move to 'Would you mind just emailing...' etc etc, and I know I'm not prepared to do that.

If pressed, I might go for the KIT option.

I think you have made the right decision. I learnt the hard way with dd1 that 'helping out' can soon become much much more and it was the last thing I wanted or needed. I have been brutal about it this time. Some people can cope, might even relish it, but my mind is elsewhere, that's why I am on maternity.

Ruby I think that is the decision I would make. If it makes you feel any better the first and only time I said no to my old boss was when j was pg, quite late on a
d it involved a lot of travelling when I was feeling crappy.

Thanks for the support. Yes, I'm pretty comfortable with the 'no' option, now I've pushed my more conscientious self aside.

LoveBeing - the first time I've said 'um, no' to this boss was Thursday. It was to a last minute request to schlepp around to two different 'urgent' meetings in town, one of which could be done as a conference call, the other which happily waited 'til Friday at my suggestion. I think the realisation that I'm off has finally set in!

Tisallafaff - exactly - and this is the last time it'll be 'just me', before our first baby arrives, and I want to try to relax and enjoy it.

Might do them good to realise how indispensable you are. But do have the KIT days conversation before you go and book some provisional dates in from 3 months + after birth. Then you can keep your profile up while you're on leave (or just take the whole period for you and baby depending on your priorities).

Fwiw I was also working on a big project before mat leave and I agreed to write up some reports after my leave began (started with a bit of annual leave first) and I found the whole thing very stressful. I think because I was making all the sacrifices and employer getting all the benefits. And then they restructured when I was away, made everyone in my line from my manager up redundant and forgot about me

I think you've made the right choice. It's v.important that they realise that YOU ARE NOT AT WORK. Too easy I think for someone to think 'oh let's just call ruby and get her input/ask her to look over this' or whatever.

rubybambini - could you suggest that in light of their request that you are prepared to delay the start of your maternity leave and continue working on full pay until the day you give birth (or you determine you are no longer fit to work) but it is agreed you work from home and not required to travel at all or go into the office and not required to carry out your usual day-to-day duties?

You would need this putting in writing though. If you are that important to the project then I would imagine the firm would be happy with that. If they are just trying it on they will back off and say no.

Could you possibly negotiate your maternity leave starting later? For instance, agreeing to review things for him, but later gets added as annual leave? Obviously if you don't find it too stressful as the health of you and the baby is paramount, but also being indispensable can be useful

Great minds think alike.