Leaving employment while on maternity leave?

[smores28]

Hi, I’ve worked full time for 11 years and always been a hardworking dedicated employee (I’ve bust my guts for them.) I’ve been forced to leave on maternity leave due to my manager not able to reduce my hours and other factors. I havent received so much as a thank you for my service after my resignation. My manager was more concerned over me handing in my uniform. Is this the ‘norm?’ I’m not expecting to receive a leaving gift or card with me leaving on maternity leave as don’t think this is the the done thing. I feel I gave them a big chunk of my life and have been made to feel a little disappointed.

That's business. Remember they still owe you your holiday pay accrued as normal during mat leave.

Don't fall out with them. Remember you may need a reference if/when you want to resume employment. Never burn your bridges.

Please reset your expectations. They aren't your friends, they are business colleagues. It's a financial transaction, if you get 1 or 2 friends out of an entire career you can count yourself lucky.

Did you go to work every day for eleven years for your salary, or for a bunch of flowers when you left? OK, they're a bit rude, but really you've had a healthy six figure sum from them and you're quibbling over twenty pounds!

Thanks for your replies everyone. No as I said in my thread I didn’t expect a card or present Struw; leavers do usually get a decent gift of abit more than £20 but I know it’s not the done thing on maternity I don’t think (not heard of anybody getting leavers card while on maternity) and wouldn’t expect it as I had said. Yes it was very rude not to get a decent reply to my resignation however. I’ve left much lesser jobs before that I’ve given much less of myself too and received a thank your for your service etc. It felt like a big kick in the teeth because these mangers have stood and made leavers speeches for staff who’ve worked there all of five minutes and just because I’m on maternity I get not so much as a simple thanks for your service. Thia wasn’t the kind of job where you’re just a number, it was close knit well so I thought! And yes thanks daisy I haven’t fallen out with anybody.

This

This happened to me after I left after over four years employment during maternity leave (I took voluntary redundancy in my case).

It was hard not to feel a bit resentful - as you say, people who had been there even six months got a speech and a card. I always liked the cards from previous employers as they're nice mementos of each job and the names of the people there.