Part time request refused whilst on maternity leave

[Em1503]

Hi I'm a full time teacher due back to work in 12 weeks. I put in a request for reduced hours which I have now found out has been refused. I've spoken to my Union who have said that it is very unlikely that I would win if I appealed.

I really don't know what to do! I can't bear the thought of going back full time and putting my DD in a nursery full time, but I need a job and if nothing comes up really soon I won't have a choice. I could go back just for the 13 weeks so I don't have to pay back the OMP but it just seems so unfair on my DD to have to go through the stress of settling her into nursery full time just for a few weeks (would have summer hols off in between which would surely cause more disruption to her??)

There is the possibility of redundancies on the cards in the near future so I'm wondering if I can bide my time to see what happens here before I have to give them a decision. I'm wondering if they're hoping I'll resign so they don't have to make anyone redundant. I would like to ask for voluntary redundancy but why would they agree when it would show them that I want to leave? Surely they'll just want for me to resign instead to save money??!

Oh it's stressing me out and I really don't know what to do next!?? ð??? any advice greatly appreciated.

I would suspect that is exactly what they are hoping for . They know you don't want to come back full time and if you resign because that is all they're offering, they have less redundancies to make.
Is there anyone who could help with childcare short term to clear your 13 weeks? If so, I'd try to do that whilst looking for another part time position.

My ex employer did this to me. I requested reduced hours and after alot of wrangling and compromise on my behalf I managed to reduce my hours.

However, after 2 weeks back from maternity leave I was on the redundancy list and out of work :(

That said, I now have a fantastic job with a small family firm, that fits great with school hours.

Personally, I would look at the above posters suggestion, as I think it is all you can do right now. Also have you been there long? Do you know what sort of package they are offering for voluntary redundancy?

Hope things work out for you. It sucks when employers dont/cant/wont help out x

Primary or secondary?

If secondary and you want to leave I'd seriously consider going back at May half term. You can put the Sunday at the start of the holiday as your return date. So..

May half term holiday (one week)
Final half term (7 weeks - gentle timetable as no year 11 or 13 so you can be out the door at 3.30)
Summer holidays (6weeks)

Hey presto - you've been back at work for 13 weeks (but only worked 7)

Having said that, don't they have to give business reasons for not letting you go part tune? If there's a chance if redundancies then I can't see how they can turn down a part time request. Have you sent a formal letter to the governors?

Actually I think you need to go back 1 week before half term.

But they are obviously trying to encourage you not to return.

Don't do it, you'd have to pay back all your maternity pay.

Go back, hand your notice in for Sept 1st and force the ball back into their court. Don't just go away and let them push you into doing what they want.

It's primary and I've been there for 5 years. Thank you all for confirming my suspicions and for the advice given. Do you think it's likely I would be able to negotiate not having to pay the maternity money back and then agreeing not to return if that's what they want? Otherwise if I can't work the redundancy thing in my favour then yes I'll have to go back for the 13 weeks and work it around the holidays. The thing that's playing on my mind though is that we have nobody to help with childcare. My DD would have to go into nursery 5 days a week which I can't bear the thought of, putting her through all that upheaval just for a few weeks. Sadly it's looking like it might be my only option though. ????

Any other thoughts? Thanks for the replies so far!

I don't think many employers would agree to that negotiation especially when they are cost cutting, sorry.
If you worked out the 13 weeks, how many days would your DD actually be in nursery for (once you take out holidays etc)? Once you break it down to days, it might seem less challenging. If you take it as an opportunity to see how you both cope, when you do get a new part time position, it won't seem so daunting.

Could you look at some local CMs? You may find it easier to leave her with someone who has much fewer children, with possibly only school age mindees so they have pretty much all day 1:1 with your baby? They would also (if you decided to remain at work) be able to iffer a Term Time only place.

Do you live with baby's father?
If so, and he has a) annual leave left and b) his company will allow it, could he take one days anual leave a week in term time so your daughter only has 4 days/ week of child care? You won't get to see any more of her, but she would be at home.
OR, could you afford for DH to take some parental leave - unpaid, but allowed in blocks of a week, and needs arranging in advance?

DH hasn't got any annual leave left as we've got holidays booked so unfortunately that isn't an option. I think I'll look at child minders though as you're right, that option doesn't seem quite do bad. I think if only have to actually work 7 of the 13 weeks as the final 6 would be the summer holidays.

One final question, do any teachers (or anybody else! ??) know how much notice you have to give to return to work early after maternity leave. I'd need to start back end of May/beginning of June time. Mu union have said either 21 or 28 days but I've heard elsewhere what it's 8 weeks. If it is 8 weeks then I'll have to make a decision and put it in writing in the next week or so. Thank you once again everyone, the help has been really valuable.

Taken from here: www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/work_e/work_time_off_work_e/maternity_leave.htm

"Your right to return to work after maternity leave

Your employer will assume that you will take all 52 weeks of your Statutory Maternity Leave. Before you go on maternity leave, your employer should tell you the date your maternity leave ends. This will be 52 weeks after your maternity leave starts.

However, you and your employer may agree on a different date for your maternity leave to end.

If you decide you want to return to work earlier than this, you must give your employer eight weeks’ notice in writing of your new date of return to work."