I'm due to return to work soon after taking a full years' maternity. This is actually my last week of AML and I am then on holiday using my accrued holiday.
I told my boss in June and July (2 conversations) that I planned to use a chunk of holiday and return beginning of March, on a part time basis of 3 days a week for that month alone to use the remainder of my accrued leave. I've been chasing my boss since September re using some KIT days and about confirming my return to work date as we needed to start looking at childcare. Finally in November he tells me he would prefer to have me back in Feb if poss as someone is leaving and it would be helpful having me back on board. I said ok that's fine but since I have so much holiday to use up (must be used by end of holiday year which ends in March) I will be using holiday each week to stagger my return. He's been particularly difficult to get hold of and it's just dragged on and on, despite me reminding him on a frequent basis as I needed to know as I needed to sort out a childminder. We met in December and I explained that I am happy to return in Feb during the week he would like me back but it would involve me working 2 days a week for about 4 weeks and then 3 days for another 4 weeks, purely to get through the holiday. He indicated this was fine. At this point I also submitted a flex working request to work from home 2 days a week from April onwards.
He got in touch this week to say his boss in the states thinks it would be too disruptive my working 2 days a week, and could I take more holiday in a chunk and return later. I said I'd look at it and speak to the childminder but I wasn't sure since she's meant to be starting with the CM in 3 weeks and I might lose her place.
Now on reflection, I don't particularly want to take more full weeks holiday than I already am. I was quite looking forward to going back on a pt basis to ease myself back into things, and also to appreciate the days off. I have definitely got cabin fever now!! I also don't want to p*ss my CM off by deferring her start as I understand she is holding a ft place for me and isn't earning any income from that right now. I don't particularly want to pay for a CMing place and not use it either. I have gone back to my boss and said that the CM is not happy to defer and I can't run the risk of losing the place as it's too late now to find an alternative. He hasn't replied and I am a little concerned tbh! Can they demand I take more holiday in one go? Everything has been discussed over the phone or face to face so there is no record that I have been chasing him this long, other than a couple of texts I sent him asking if we could discuss/chading him up. He's had 4 weeks since we spoke in person to run this past his boss, and I had specifically told him then that we had a CMer and I needed to confirm whether or not we were taking the place. AIBU here!?