My work situation is complicated and long, but if anyone has any advice for me, Id be most grateful.
Ive been with my current employer (huge bluechip) for 6.5 years. Due to restructuring we were all told that there would be a voluntary redundancy scheme for which everyone could apply if they didnt like the look of the new operating model.
Im due to go on maternity leave for a year with DC2 from 1st July and have also been told that the flexibility that I currently benefit from in my working patterns/location probably wont exist when I return from maternity leave. Ive made some noise about this and (naively?) told them that I will require flexibility when I go back. Work has said that they cant guarantee that now and it would need to be considered closer to my return, but that as part of the new operating model its unlikely to be supported. They are recruiting for my maternity cover as we speak (pretty late in the day given I told them I was pregnant in Jan, but there we go) and have also said that I wouldnt have been accepted for VR if Id applied (because Im still required operationally and that my job isnt changing that much), and couldnt have offered me that whilst actively recruiting for my replacement and its all very complex around redundancy and maternity legally. But that they could offer a settlement agreement instead. The benefit for them is that they can recruit for someone permanently instead of just for 12 months and get the continuity and have someone 5 days a week in the office (I would want 3 days in the office or max 4 days a week with 2 from home).
Theyve said the settlement agreement would include a figure that costs them no more than the cost of me being on maternity leave for the year. This would include my enhanced maternity pay (ie SMP plus additional company paid mat pay) and my car allowance. Ive asked them to factor in pension (6% employer contributions) and childcare vouchers too, as well as next year's potential bonus and annual leave too. I dont know how they work out my total cost to them for the year, as obviously there are employer class 1a NI contributions and they can reclaim 92% of my SMP too.
On the face of it, the settlement doesnt sound too attractive because it means Im officially unemployed in 3 weeks (my end date would be 30th June) and potentially no better off financially than if Id stayed. Im quite prepared to not take the offer, take a punt on the flexibility in 10/11 months time and worst case scenario do my obligatory 30 days when I get back so I dont have to repay the enhanced portion of maternity pay and then look for something else, whilst benefitting from FT salary (albeit only temporarily I could grit my teeth and bare it for a month or two only), and either have my accrued annual leave paid out or use it during my notice period. (They must surely be aware of this as Ive made it clear that the flexibility is really important to me so am hoping I'll be pleasantly surprised by the settlement offer but am not holding my breath).
Additionally, everyone applying to be my maternity cover has salary expectations of approx 20k higher than my current salary. Anyone expecting around the range of my salary (45k+5k car allowance) is seemingly too junior. Ive pointed out that this is a bit of a kick in the teeth (though this has been something Ive been mumbling at them for a few years) as it is glaringly obvious that Im underpaid. Our salaries are reviewed annually and Im expecting a small increase and a 10% bonus this year the pay rise kicks in on 1st June and the bonus is paid on 30th June. I wont see the benefit of the pay rise now because my maternity pay will be calculated using this years salary. I think Im eligible to be part of the review next year too though going by my last pay rise and bonus whilst on maternity leave it wont be anything substantial. I think I could possibly push this point and ask for an increase to 60k for the my return on 1st July next year, but I suspect that would wipe out any chance Id have of getting any flexible working approved. But then again, I'd probably suck it for the month or so then leave anyway.
Im not really too sure what Im looking for by posting this but have been wondering whether to seek advice on all of this from Citizens Advice or an employment lawyer. Ive told them that they muddied the waters by releasing the VR scheme to all and sundry (including to a big chunk of people who wouldnt ever get it) because actually, I wouldve just sat tight through my maternity leave and discussed the flexibility when I was due to return and worried about it later. I guess they dont have to give me anything to leave with now. The annoying thing is that the VR scheme was announced on 30th April and open for applications between 6th and 23rd May and during this time I was repeatedly asking how my maternity leave/pay would be effected if I opted for the VR scheme (at that point they hadnt said I wouldnt be eligible). Finally I got a call on Thursday (5th June) saying they still didnt have the figures, but that I wouldn't be eligible for VR but they would consider the settlement....
Either way Im due to finish work on 30th June so have just over 3 weeks to get this sorted. And obviously amongst all that Im 34 weeks pregnant, fat, tired and hormonal!
Im concerned they wont explain the offer calculation so Ill be to-ing and fro-ing with that for a while and wish theyd just given me all the facts and figures when I first enquired about what my options were on 1st May!
ARGH. Thanks for reading if you got this far!