Should employer send me updates from work when on maternity leave?

[GMay30]

Hi I'm currently in my 9th week of maternity leave and I work for a voluntary org which is funded by council. Should they keep me updated of company whilst on maternity leave ie send staff meeting notes? I've heard from a colleague that our company may be in trouble and not receive more funds but shouldn't they be writing to me about this, seeing as it could be my job on the line? Do I have the right to ask for staff meeting notes to be sent to me? X

It would be unusual for meeting notes to be sent to you as a matter of course, but certainly for things like restructuring or redundancy consultation, you should be involved.

Have you asked your manager for information?

No only heard about it yesterday and my colleague said shed thought I should be sent notes etc as I'm still employed etc x

We have a strict "no work" policy - so we wouldn't be sending updates - we view it as a right to take leave and be uninterrupted by work matters

You need to discuss "Keeping In Touch" time with you line manager, your and their expectations and how you are going to be reimbursed ie time or money.

I would expect you to have had a discussion with your manager before your mat leave started about how much contact you wanted (I.e. weekly chat, occasional email or nothing at all). Routinely, it would be unusual for people on maternity leave to be sent meeting notes.

However, if restructuring/redundancies are happening, then absolutely they will need to consult with you but only once it is definitely happening.

I asked to still be involved in 'full staff' emails etc (from school) just so I was aware of things going on and to know dates for staff meetings/training I might want to attend so I didn't loose touch - might be worth a call or popping in just so you know
I know lots I places have no contact/no work etc though and it definitely wasn't expected that I checked email or went in

I thought this was going to be a compliant about them contacting you!

They won't do it as a matter of course but they can if you ask I would think.

They have contacted me on a few things since starting my maternity leave about how to do something, ie computer related even though I have someone who is doing my job on mat leave and me leaving a manual. That I wasn't happy about, but yes I've heard the company could be in trouble and this was discussed in a staff meeting and for that reason you'd think I'd be informed.

Tbh i feel my treatment in regards to my mat leave wasn't brilliant and no nothing was discussed and I didn't even have a meeting with manager before I left!

I have empathy, it is a worry when you hear things about work but you aren't there so cannot do much about it.

If I were you I'd be careful about inviting too much contact. Or they might see it as an open invite to contact you about x z an z.

If your org is like the voluntary sector org I worked for the 'funding pendulumn' could quickly swing the other way very quickly and a new contract/grant means the fortunes are different.

Should there be job security issues they should contact you if they are following due process.

Mat leave flies by, I'd personally try to not worry/forget about it until you know there is something to worry about. Easy for me to say I know.

Good luck. Hope it turns out to just be a rumour etc.

If they haven't started anything formal in terms of restructuring or redundancy, they're not doing anything wrong by not automatically forwarding you notes of staff meetings, but if you want them, or want more contact or more information, just ask your manager.