Return to work after Maternity - do I have any rights?

[Starlight85]

Im currently on maternity leave and due back in February. I was working full time, 37 hours a week over 5 days. Someone has been covering my role and my whole role has changed since I’ve been on maternity leave so she probably knows the job better than me now. From when I first told my manager I was pregnant he said they would support me over the next few years if I wanted to work part time or do a job share but never in writing.

I requested beginning of December to go down to 3 days. I have finally heard back that I can go down to 30 hours but it has to be over 5 days.

I’m so upset and my manager now can’t remember ever saying about part time or a job share etc!

Do I have any rights at all or do they just need to keep my old job open for me?

You have the right to return on your previous terms, so full time. You also have the right to request flexible working, which you have done, but your employer has the right to decline your request if it would negatively affect the business.

The reasons employers can refuse flex working are here www.gov.uk/flexible-working/after-the-application

Has your employer given you a reason why they have declined your request and offered 30 hours over 5 days instead? Presumably they are arguing that they need someone in the office every day rather than only on 3 days?

I have a friend in the same boat, due back in feb and was full time. It wanting part time! They’ve refused her and told her full time or nothing as their wanting to move away from part timers as it’s getting too hard for management to keep track of who’s doing what! I’m wanting to reduce my hours and have suggested that surely we can find a way round it with us all that maybe includes getting someone else in to cover the extra hours if left over, but they’ve refused! She’s really Upset about it and on meds because depressed at thought Of leaving her baby all day long! They even tried making her feel better about it by saying at least she’ll look forward to spending time with her baby at weekends! It’s a bloody joke! It’s difficult! If they won’t budge I’d look for something else! X

They only have to keep your old job open for you and only for the SML. If you take AML then they only have to offer you something on the same hours and pay but the role can be different.

Flexible working can be requested but very often people just request what they want without thinking what the business needs and then get cross when it's rejected. Three days is hard to cover as not many want to work two days and to job share properly there needs hand over time which means extra salary costs.