Keep in touch days

[babymum90]

Hi mums
My employers offer KIT days which are 10 shifts during maternity leave with full pay where I am counted as an extra. I spoke to my employer about these and told her when I was available to work my employer told me there were no shifts available on those days so I couldn't work. Does this matter as I'm counted as an extra and are they obliged to let me work when I decide what shifts I want to do?

I would have thought the same as you. When my KIT days were offered I was told that I didnt actually need to do work, I could be just attending a meeting, catching up on emails, reading any up to date changes. Youll have been off work so likely to need refreshing on what your tasks are so shouldn't be expected to just work like any other member of my team.
(I never got chance to do my KIT days due to covid, but if i had i would have just gone in to catch up on anything that had changed)

From what I remember, KIT days are optional rather than mandatory, and they should be agreed mutually by you/your manager, so if she’s saying it doesn’t suit, keep sending more dates that you’re available! They can be used for meetings, training etc not just for working shifts so if there’s things you can catch up or refresh yourself on, that’s allowed.

The person who covered my leave was an utter knob who tried to make it as difficult as poss for me to use mine, I sympathise if your boss is being difficult!