Management responsibility involvement whilst on ML

[Mumandmanager]

Hello, have name changed for this.

Am currently more than half way into years maternity leave so understand the job I go back to could change if there is a valid business rationale for this. Have had a few issues since being off. My cover gets on very well with my boss and is no secret she would like a permanent position. I've had to really push to be kept in the loop about changes etc. Since I've been off we've had a few senior team members resign and I'd like to be involved with any discussion about permanent replacements. I very much get the feeing I'm being fobbed off when I approach my manager in a "don't worry your cover is dealing with it" kind of way. I'm worried that being. Left out of things will mean I get sidelined and the cover gets a better role. What are my rights here regarding my position if there isn't a strong feasible argument to change my role and also regarding being involved in key decisions? I have specifically stated this before I left and am doing all I can to keep myself informed but feel as though is very one way. Am trying to enjoy ML but hate I always seem to have half a mind on losing my career. Any thoughts very welcome.

Sorry for typos, on phone whilst BF

Surely if you're off then you're off. It will be seen as you trying to undermine your cover.

But likewise if they are decisions that impact my role going forward I should be allowed some involvement?

Not sure, really, it's a tricky one. I can't see they're doing anything wrong, though.

I would say that you should be kept informed of major changes, but that your job should be done by your cover while you're off.

So in the case of recruiting new staff, the cover should do it. Though they could ask you to help via a KIT day if they wanted to (which you'd be under no obligation to agree to if you didn't want to).

When you go back, you should be given the same role, unless there's a good reason why not. And if not, then a similar role in terms of kudos/responsibility/terms etc. If they don't give you that, then you might have cause to complain, but you can't interfere while you are off. Your cover can do what they like as long as their manager agrees.

How much longer do you have on ML?
Have you done formal KIT days?

It is very hard. I have both had my mat leave covered and been a mat leave cover (twice). First time i was worried the person would be kept on as he had been brought in via a much loved sub-contractor and he was a man and my (female) boss preferred working with men. In the end he didn;t do the job as well as i did and moved on when i came back. For the first mat cover i did, the other staff did like me more than her but it was very hard to do the job as i just did not have the underpinning knowledge she had. In the final one the post i was covering was made redundant but i was kept on as the boss liked me much more than the person i was covering for.

But likewise if they are decisions that impact my role going forward I should be allowed some involvement?

No, you shouldn't. It is up to your employer to run their business in your absence.

You can't have it both ways I'm afraid

You are either at work or off. Your employer has a business to run and needs to be able to continue to do that in your absence

I agree that you can't have it both ways. You have to let your mat cover, who was probably hired for her skill set, to get on with the job she is being paid to do.

Nobody can be expected to involve the person they are replacing in lots of decisions. She is doing your role whilst you are off, she's not your proxy vote in your absence.

I agree, you need to allow your cover to do their job while you're off. Ask if you can use your KIT days to sit in on interviews maybe?

Check your company's mat policy. Mine said they would 'keep me informed of anything that might affect my employment. never mind that they didn't
I'd be wary of cover seeming too cosy with the boss, tbh. Have you got more KIT days to do/booked in? What does your mat policy say wrt your return & what position you'll be in? Mine guaranteed same or same seniority (legally I believe you are entitled to exact same position until end of OML, I.e. 9 months then an equivalent), but yours may vary.

Good luck.

Agree with PP that say you are on leave. From what you've said here, you seem to want a bit more than keeping up to date with what's happening and I don't think you should be influencing what is happening at work during your absence.

Why are you so worried about the cover? Do you have any reason to feel they would like to replace you?