Extend maternity/difficult boss

[laurasmeden]

I was planning on going back to work after the 39 weeks paid leave was over which would have been March 6th. Then on a KIT day (13th Feb) my boss told me she cant give me hours on a Friday or Saturday but on Monday and Tuesday instead.

I looked into nursery but its too expensive. I have no childcare on these days but my mother in law is retiring in July and has offered to babysit whenever.

I thought my best option would be to extend my leave and take the unpaid maternity I am entitled to which would take me up until the beginning of July. Obviously I could only give a couple weeks notice as my boss had only just told me about the days she wanted me in.

I am back in work this week as previously arranged but as KIT days and my boss has said she is going to have to give me my p45, as I should have given her 8 weeks notice. I have 2 more KIT days arranged and she also said that she is going to have to get maternity cover, so why would she need maternity cover if she's going to give me my p45? Surely she's just fired me so would need to find a replacement not cover. Also if she has arranged more KIT days with my how can she fire me as that means I am still on leave?

How long have you worked there?
What shifts did you do before maternity leave?

I would suggest speaking to the CAB.

For unpaid parental leave (up to 18 weeks per child) you only have to give 3 weeks notice. Perhaps you could put in a request for that and use the expensive childcare just during the period of the notice?

Firstly, employers should assume you are taking the full year unless you tell them otherwise. Had you put your return to work date in writing with them?

8 weeks is the standard clause for changing the date of return from maternity leave so if you have previously said you'll be returning in March then yes, they may have a point tbh.

I'd seek some further advice and arm yourself with a copy of their maternity leave policy.

I have been working there a couple years, before leave my days would change depending how busy we got. I had said when asked I would like to return when the paid maternity stops which was the plan until my boss said she would only give me work on Mondays or Tuesdays. If my boss had told me sooner I would have been able to give more notice.

The only thing in writing is an email of me asking if there are any extra hours for me when I return from maternity leave. My boss replied with a letter saying that they are pleased that i wish to return to work following maternity leave, after 6th March 2017 (they put the wrong year)

It said they can offer me more hours than before if I want them, and it said they would like to discuss my availability on a regular weekly basis, before I return to work in March 2018, according to child care availability and School hours.

As my bosses where away in January and too busy to talk in February there was no discussion. Just me being given these days a couple weeks ago and trying to figure out what I could do for childcare.