I'm finishing my maternity leave and returning to work part-time tomorrow, and am dreading it. A new line manager took over the running of our department earlier in the year, and despite my efforts to remain in contact via email with the team, introduce myself to her, show willing generally... I've had a difficult time.
I work in FE - I'm a lecturer, and work one day a week. From April onwards I contacted this new manager once every six weeks or so, just a general email asking if there was any news about the timetable, i.e. which day would I be teaching, so that I could get childcare in place. Nothing. Nothing until early July when I got a one line email from her:
"Could we have you on a Tuesday?"
I didn't see why not, but took it upon myself to contact HR and ask them to put wheels in motion if my manager was in agreement, letting payroll etc know. Heard nothing back from either the manager or HR to confirm that Tuesday would be my day of work.
Since then I've emailed again to ask for confirmation, and heard nothing. My manager refused to let me know my timetable, when I asked I got a one line email back:
"I can't because it's handwritten".
I'm so angry, and am due to go in tomorrow although I've had no confirmation. I am not sure where my desk is, and whether I'll even be allowed in the building as I won't have an up-to-date security pass. When I get there, there will probably be no one around. I don't know what to do! I feel so annoyed that it has spoiled the last months of my mat. leave because I'm so stressed about it. When I finally do get sorted, how do I register my dis-satisfaction with the way I've been treated? Do you just move on and be courteous to everyone, or do you complain? What would you do?
I don't know whether this is relevant or not, but just so as not to drip feed info, this is my fourth baby, although the first two were born while I was at a different college, which then merged with my present college if that makes sense. I know they are usually rubbish at organising anything, but get the feeling that I am so unimportant to them I am not worth bothering with. I would like to be assertive and stand up for my rights, but don't want to rub people up the wrong way and cause even more trouble for myself.