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Can't stop crying. Back to work tomorrow.

60 replies

springerspaniel · 05/02/2006 19:25

Can't believe how quickly my 7 months have gone. First three were really tough but the last 4 have been the best of my life. Good luck to anyone else who starts this week.

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GDG · 07/02/2006 17:34

I don't buy the confidentiality arguement for not being allowed to work at home. I'm a freelancer and the stuff I work on is so commercially sensitive, and confidential, it's not true. I work on projects for the big gun pharma companies - I do it all from home, they email me stuff and post stuff and it's extremely confidential. I just have to sign confidentiality agreements and ensure that the work I receive is secure in my home.

springerspaniel · 07/02/2006 17:51

They've been stung before.

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northerner · 07/02/2006 20:49

GDG some of my clients are the big pharma companies so I know what you mean about confidentiality!

anniemac · 08/02/2006 10:03

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anniemac · 09/02/2006 17:06

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springerspaniel · 11/02/2006 10:59

It was hideous. Totally non-negotiable. DS still has diarrohea so husband has taken 4 days off this week. Am going to have to get the in-laws in if it goes on longer. Left work no earlier than 6.30 this week so saw DS for about 10 minutes or not at all this week. I am not allowed to work from home, he said, because I have been promoted for my organisational skills, rather than programming skills therefore I must see the rest of the team. He doesn't want me disrupting the rest of the team. Other owner of the company says he doesn't think it would and people expect me to leave at 5 and he would rather have me 9-5 than not at all but scary owner won the argument. There was talk on Friday about getting us to work weekends again but I think it was decided not to for the moment. When I say working late, I have worked properly late at this company and I've worked multiple weekends in a row. What I object to is that the normal leaving time is 5.45 which means I see my son for maybe 30 minutes. Surely a measly 45 mins a day is nothing to the company. Am happy to come in earlier (for about 5 years I came in at 7.30) and happy to take 10 min lunch break but he said that doesn't count - it is all about doing what the rest of the team does. When his kids were little, he hardly saw them and they turned out alright so why should I have it different? How can I argue with that. You are right, it is a small company. I have to keep my head down and pay the mortgage. Have no choice. Legal option too hideous to think about - if I lost, I would lose my house because we'd have to move. I feel so naive for thinking it would be okay. I have mentioned multiple times over the years that I would probably move jobs when I wanted a baby because I would want a 9-5 job and they always told me it would be ok (but never actually spelt it out so I can't get them on that.) I am definitely not going to do anything drastic so am just keeping my eye on the jobs pages and trying to spend as little money as possible to see what we could live on.

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springerspaniel · 11/02/2006 11:00

He does sometimes work from home himself. Also - he usually doesn't come in till 9am but there is no way that will help my argument by bringing that up!

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tribpot · 11/02/2006 12:11

This may not be very helpful, but everything you are describing is why I left IT contracting to go permie in the public sector when I was pregnant. The stupidly long hours and weekend working are 9 times out of 10 a panic reaction by weak and incompetent management, who can't think of any way out of any problem except by flogging their workers harder. It gets to be institutionalised and it becomes very difficult for anyone to swim against the tide, for whatever reason.

A friend in one of my old companies has been sent off to Germany at virtually no notice for six weeks, missing Valentine's Day with his gf and an interview which was very important to her. I was staggered he even consented to go, particularly when the trip was put back a week "because there were no computers for them to work on". So, this is 'life and death' (in telecoms, not actual life and death) yet can easily be postponed due to absence of PC? He hasn't even put up much of a fight about it, that constant pressure to 'take one for the team' is insidious.

If your organisational skills were worthy of promotion, I'm pretty sure you can manage your team yet only work 9-5. What they don't like is the precedent it may set, I'm sure. Plus there will no doubt be tensions if the rest of the team are made to work more hours and you don't.

You've got one of the owners on side, you could play a political game, but I know I wouldn't have the energy for that. In all honesty, I'd be tempted to try just leaving at 5 without a word of explanation, and if it's likely anyone will need to speak to you, say you'll be contactable by mobile.

In terms of maternity pay, the sooner you leave the better position you'll be in elsewhere for next time around.

springerspaniel · 11/02/2006 14:20

Thanks Tribpot. I totally agree with you. I tried leaving at 5 and got called in and shouted out and told that it was completely unacceptable. I have thought about moving but if I was to go for public sector that would mean a longer commute. My only other option seems to be teaching which I'm not sure if I'm cut out for but have always considered it. My husband is an ex-teacher and my mum has taught for 30 years - both think I am mad for considerring it.

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tribpot · 11/02/2006 15:18

What are your contracted hours? I don't think anyone can be pulled up and shouted at for working them and your boss is on thin ice really. (Except we both know how working for a small IT firm goes - there used to be weekly random sackings at the first place I worked).

I'm not sure the longer commute argument works if at the mo you're having to work til 6:30 anyway. (You must have a very understanding nursery? Even my SIL who is a workaholic has to leave at 6 cos the nursery shuts then). More of a problem might be the salary hit of moving to a more suitable environment. I made my decisions very carefully (and I'm the sole breadwinner, so it's not like salary is unimportant) but with much less financial pressure, dh and I are both ex-contractors.

In honesty, I would leave if I were you and as soon as you can work out your numbers and see what you can afford to live on / live with in terms of a commute. I really feel for you. Even when I go back to work full-time in a few months I will still be able to work from home basically whenever I want, so won't have to miss out on seeing ds all the time in the week. What I said to a friend of mine this week about work seems kind of apt (she is going back to work p-t because she is going through treatment for cervical cancer, not exactly the same obviously!):

"Work provides me with a source of stimulation, diversion, conversation and normality. If it's not doing that, or if it's not ONLY doing that, I would sack it off toute de suite".

Obviously I don't think you should just quit! But frankly I reckon we mums of young babies have enough to deal with without bags of stress from work as well. As to teaching, I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole (no offence to any teachers out there, I need someone to be prepared to teach ds in years to come). Surely public sector IT would pay better than teaching anyway?

springerspaniel · 12/02/2006 09:25

My contracted hours are 8.30 - 5 but my contract says I have to work flexibly according to business needs. Contracts are not worth the paper they are written on though - you basically have to do what you are told to do in a small firm or your life will be miserable and you will want to leave in any case. My nursery shuts at 6.15 so husband is going to do three pickups and I am allowed to leave at 5.30 twice a week. LO was ill all last week so husband took four days off. Still has diarrohea today so have to draft the in-laws in as boss would go mental if I tried to take another day off. He think me leaving at 5.30 twice a week is a big compromise on his side.

I have basically come to a decision. I have to leave. I can't leave yet financially as my big salary is paying the mortgage and nursery. I have to stay for at least another year (maybe more but I can't think about that now) so I kind of have to shut my eyes for three months and see how I feel then. Maybe I'll have baby number two at this company, pay a bit more of my mortgage off and then go into lower paid job. That would mean another two years by which time my beautiful baby would be nearly three.

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springerspaniel · 12/02/2006 09:26

What do you mean by public sector IT? I could probably get a reasonably well paid job at the department of health but that is bound to be long hours and probably travel too. I am thinking teaching because I could get a job close to home. I know how hard they work though and I know how little they get paid.

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hercules · 12/02/2006 09:29

actually teachers pay isnt that bad anymore! especially when you have responsibility.

hercules · 12/02/2006 09:29

we're not martyrs you know

springerspaniel · 12/02/2006 09:43

Sorry! I know it's better than it used to be but if you consider the level of responsibility and the actual number of hours, it is quite shocking compared to my salary in the private sector. A trainee GTP gets £14k which is a bit scary considering how many hours they put in.

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tribpot · 12/02/2006 09:43

Sorry hercules, hope my assumption didn't cause offence. But there is the year off for the training, I think? And then I assume starting salaries are not spectacular?

You must have felt like you've painted yourself into a bit of a corner, springerspaniel. No chance your dh can reduce his hours so your littie one has a bit more parental interaction during the week?

I will CAT you re: public sector IT, I'm no expert but may be able to help a little.

springerspaniel · 12/02/2006 09:45

Sorry! I know it's better than it used to be but if you consider the level of responsibility and the actual number of hours, it is quite shocking compared to my salary in the private sector. A trainee GTP gets £14k which is a bit scary considering how many hours they put in.

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edam · 12/02/2006 09:45

Check out the Department of Trade and Industry website for employment law. Absolute rubbish that you have to stay late becuase your team do; I've worked with bosses who do four day weeks when most of the workers have been full-time, and staff who leave on the dot of five because they do nursery pick up. No bearing on other members of staff at all. I used to do four days in the office and one day at home when I was the boss - kept in touch with my team by phone and email.

hercules · 12/02/2006 09:59

I got 6000 tax free whilst I was training on my PGCE and only this year after 5 years took on responsibility. I work part time now and earn a decent wage with 13 weeks holidays as well.

hercules · 12/02/2006 10:01

I would also say far less hours than what you do know plus the flexibility of being home at 4 if you want.

hercules · 12/02/2006 10:01

I would also say far less hours than what you do know plus the flexibility of being home at 4 if you want.

hercules · 12/02/2006 10:01

I would also say far less hours than what you do know plus the flexibility of being home at 4 if you want.

hercules · 12/02/2006 10:01

I would also say far less hours than what you do know plus the flexibility of being home at 4 if you want.

hercules · 12/02/2006 10:02

oops

hercules · 12/02/2006 10:02

oops