Hi, not sure if right place to post as just joined.
Currently 23 weeks with dc2. Dc1 started nursery school, afternoons, last September. Last June I put in a flexible working request so that I would be able to do 1 or 2 pick ups a week. I was very civilised in discussions with my manager and didn't demand anything, just said I hoped they could accommodate me as I was desparate to do at least 1 pick up. I work full time in IT for a big (disliked!) company, not customer facing.
It was turned down as my manager said it didn't meet the needs of the service. I appealed but his view was deemed correct. HR were useless. So I dutifully arranged a childminder for all of my school pick ups (DH works away) at cost and upset about not picking up at all.
So In august I'm off on maternity leave again and they've just appointed my cover (highly specialised tech role so it was a tough recruitment process and only one applicant was deemed to have the specialist knowledge/skills) so they were desperate for her to accept, she's also no way near as experienced as me and I will have to do a thorough handover which is why they're appointed so early.
Found out this morning they've agreed to her finishing in time to do 4 school pick ups (1dc primary, 1 secondary) which is more than I ever expected/asked for and some working from home. I'm beyond angry, I'm crying and I can't believe they've treated me like this. I don't know what to do, can I do anything? The needs of the service haven't changed and I keep thinking about all that time I could have spent with my dc, and all of they money I could have saved (enough for me to have more mat leave this time). My manager is in a meeting but I'm likely to go in there and cry my eyes out when he gets back. Clearly that's not a good idea but do you think I should say anything? Or just get over it and be pleased the bar has been set for when I return to work next year?