Applied for dream job but still on maternity. Need advice.

[Angelle2]

Need some advice. Going back 2 years I interviewed for my dream job at a top magic circle law firm. Unfortunately I was unsuccessful as they offered the job to another candidate, who later on didn't accept. I found this out as the job re-advertised via an agency who contacted me regarding the job which perfectly matched my CV. I didn't reapply on the advice of the agency who explained the client may not want to see me again. Fast forward to today, the job has been re-advertised (obviously not filled) and I have applied again as I feel it's too good an opportunity to not apply for. Plus I really wanted the job when I applied the first time.

The dilemma. I am currently on maternity leave and have requested flexible working application to begin 1st October with the view of resuming back full time early next year. The plan to look for a new job once my 6 months is complete. If I was successful in this job this time around, I could just tell my employers I'm not returning but I cannot afford to pay the enhanced maternity back. Is there anyway I can get my current employees to waiver that or be upfront with this new firm and tell them this situation and I won't be able to start until early next year. Will they be willing to wait that long? Will they be put off by the fact I'm on maternity. Should I even mention it? Please advise! Any one been in similar situation with good outcomes?

You could ask your current employer about not claiming back the enhanced maternity, but they are under no obligation to do so. My company has waved this, but only in extreme circumstances eg redundancy.

With regards to whether or not the new company will wait for you, we'll, that's up to them. If they really want you, they may wait eg if you have specialist skills. It's worth asking, as you never know, but 6 months is a long time to wait for somebody.

If you do get the job as have to pay back your enhanced mat pay, your company will have to accept a reasonable repayment plan based o what you can afford. This is what my finance department told me.

They definitely will. I signed a contract before I went on maternity. Interesting about a payment plan which seems like the way forward, however just reading my booklet it states that I would have to pay by cheque before I leave.

In terms of the new role it is a specialist skill set and experience they are looking for, hence why it is still open 2 years later! Whether I'm the most suitable candidate is another matter but I can definitely do the job based on my experience and for that reason I'm taking the chance to apply and see what happens. I want to be honest about my maternity position.

In my organisation, when we have ex-employees who owe us money, my finance department have said they have to accept payment plans based on what they can afford to pay, because if it ends up in court, we have to show that we have been reasonable. There are laws about stuff like this, shouldn't be too difficult to find. They may deduct what they can from your final salary though, which could be untaken annual leave.

Thank you. I will definitely look up on that if it comes to this situation in the end.

Might be a bit cheeky but you could ask you new employer if they would help with this. We ask employees to sign an agreement if they undertake any paid qualifications that they have to repay us if they leave within a certain time frame although more often than not the employees advise their new employers of this and if they really want them they are prepared to reimburse us and likewise we do the same to employees we take on. I know its not the same but its something you could tell your new company, its something you're concerned about and may be a dealbreaker.

What is your notice period in your current job? 3 months?

It is 3 months yes. I did think about this because that's how I joined my current firm. At the time I was studying for my Masters part time which my previous employer was paying for and I left before my two years was up but my current firm was willing to pay the cost upon joining. Worth trying if I get that far again. I have applied so if its meant to be it will be.

Thank you for the idea.

So I get a call today inviting me to first interview!!

If I am successful, I will propose some of the repayment options suggested above or I was thinking to propose they could help and take half out of my salary for the first year.

Any advice of how to handle the first interview, I'm going to have to be honest about my situation, but I don't want them to dismiss me because of it.

BTW change of name.

Think about this from your potential employers point of view

You made a commitment to your previous employer when they funded your Masters
You broke this commitment, but got your current employers to pay the penalty for that broken promise

You have now made commitments to your current employers , to get them to pay out for enhanced maternity pay
You are quite prepared to break these commitments once again, provided your potential new employers will once again make sure you don't have to pay any penalty for your broken promises

If you were an employer, would this be attractive to you ?

I get what your saying MadonnaKebab. But I don't see it as breaking commitment as such as the two situations are quite different.

For my previous job where I undertook my Masters, this was my own drive for continual learning which would of course benefit the firm. Even though they paid, my course was not a necessity and a committed agreement for them. I don't think they even cared whether I took the course or not. Thus of course if I moved on within 2 years I would have to repay. Although I loved the company and was very committed (was there 5 years) after 2 management/structure changes and less scope for progress in a field I love, I was no longer happy.

My current job at the time provided that next step and the benefit for them was my experience and study which is why they took on the cost. No one lost out.

Been at my current firm now 6 years and again after many structural changes and a merger, I am in a position where I feel the need to move on but would only do when the right roles comes along. The only thing that happened in between was that I became pregnant and now opportunity has knocked again. By law I am not committed to going back to this job even with enhanced maternity (which after 5 years) is a perk not a promise.

Even if I pay the cost myself or the potential employer helps, no one loses. The current firm would gain, if they think that I would be beneficial to them. I can see why your saying in that it might come across that way, but my view is is that changes and situations happen all the time and when HR and firms change contracts or structures and break their promises and make people redundant, there is not a thing we can do about it.

In any case, I haven't been offered the job yet and would only review options if I were to be successful. If so, I would probably opt for a repayment plan with my current firm as this seems like the right thing to do since I won't be ale to pay it all back at once.

Would like to hear from those that have been a similar situation. Anyone who had a repayment plan or any waived cases? Or in the unlikely event a potential employer helped with fees? Any advice for interview?

Thanks.

I wouldn't involve your new employer in repaying your

I wouldn't involve your new employer in repaying your Old employer. Just sort out a payment plan if necessary.

I think the Masters is a bit different TBH - the employer can put that into a training budget.

I think that legally they might have to make you a loan so you could make the repayment and loans of more than £5,000 to employees are a taxable benefit unless a commercial interest rate is charged. It might be worth asking if they offer employee loans and then you could borrow the balance from a bank perhaps?

Would you be obliged to go back to your old employer as there's now less than 3 months left of your maternity leave? Does the amount you pay back reduce pro rata to any time back at work?

Quite right it is quite different. So ultimately I would have to pay back. I will investigate about how they would do this and will cross that bridge if I get to it.

No I still don't have to go back at this stage, but its taken almost a month for the firm I've applied to to invite me in. I have a feeling the process will be slow so, I will continue as normal because I may not even get the job in the end. It will benefit both if I do go back because, I can hand in my notice and still receive a salary and give a proper handover until I leave. Plus any time that I work will reduce the amount paid back......I think.

Also you should have accrued leave whilst on maternity (if not already taken?) so that could help bridge the gap.