Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Work

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

Original poster

Manager keeps mentioning KIT days

16 replies

OvertiredOverthinker · 18/01/2022 10:19

Hi all,

I’m currently on maternity leave and not due back until late Spring. I have only received the occasional email from my manager since starting my leave, just to discuss things like my flexible working request, important updates etc. which I have appreciated. However my manager keeps referring to KIT days and asking me if I have any thoughts on them? They actually want me to come into the office for a catch-up next week (not great as my husband has scheduled annual leave and we rarely get time together due to his working pattern). This is so they can see how I am and “discuss my thoughts on KIT days”.

I’m finding this a bit annoying, as I’m fully aware of my entitlement to complete KIT days and that they are optional. Is it wrong of me to feel that my manager should really wait for me to request these and not keep asking for my thoughts on these? I almost feel like they’re saying “I think it would be a good idea for you to do some KIT days/Why don’t we arrange for you to do some KIT days?”. My honest answer is that I don’t really want to do any! I don’t really want to think about work until I’m almost back! I’m very much on the fence about another child, so this may be the only maternity leave I get. I’m also not exactly in a high-flying career and do not wish to be, so not really worried about this affecting promotions etc.

Did anybody else not do KIT days and did you feel it was viewed upon negatively by management? As my employer agreed to my flexible working request, I suppose I feel a little bit guilty that I’m not chomping at the bit to do some KIT days and that it may be viewed as me taking the pee a little bit!

OP posts:
OldMMC · 18/01/2022 10:22

I told work I would love to use them but I didn't have any childcare until I returned to work so I unfortunately couldn't use KIT days. Last I heard about them.

rookiemere · 18/01/2022 10:22

I totally understand that you don't want to think about work until it's a bit closer to coming back, but at least your manager is trying to keep you involved.
I'd suggest a couple of KIT dates to put in the diary for the month before you go back.

StEval · 18/01/2022 10:23

Just tell them next week is not convenient and currently you dont want to do any KIT days .
They can be useful just before you go back -dry run type thing.
I dont really understand why they are contacting you all the time on ML?

CPDubs · 18/01/2022 10:24

If you don’t want to do any then just let them know. I’m off for 58 weeks so will be doing one a week once my pay drops to zero so I can have some sort of income

MichelleScarn · 18/01/2022 10:24

Has your maternity pay stopped? Are they doing in a nice way so you can get a days pay for a tiny bit of contact?

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 18/01/2022 10:24

I only did 2 or 3 kit days, due to childcare, but did find then very useful. My line manager let me bring my baby into a team meeting, and we had a bit of a 1:1, went for lunch with the team…. Pretty straightforward really, then I took TOIL and added to the end of mat leave.

JurgensCakeBabyJesus · 18/01/2022 10:25

Most people want to do the KIT days as they get paid for them as mat pay is tailing off, so she prevent thinks you want to. Why not just say I've thought about it and I don't want to do any KIT days thank you.

user33323 · 18/01/2022 10:25

I would just tell them you would love to do KIT days but unfortunately have no childcare options until your child starts at nursery at the end of your maternity.

busyeatingbiscuits · 18/01/2022 10:26

I'd reply something like, "hello Dave, I don't want to request any KIT at the moment. I will be in touch nearer the end of my maternity leave to discuss my return to work. Look forward to speaking to you in April".

Xyzzzzz · 18/01/2022 10:28

I loved my KIT days but they were cut short due to covid and lockdown. This time I plan to do them too.

But if you don’t want to do them just say you don’t wish to do them right now and you’ll be in contact when you wish to do so.

namechange30455 · 18/01/2022 10:47

Have you actually told them you don't want to do them? I don't think it's unreasonable of your manager to ask your thoughts tbh if you haven't mentioned it at all. If they're still pushy when you've said you're not planning to do any then yes that's not ok but I don't think that's the situation here?

110APiccadilly · 18/01/2022 11:04

I didn't do any full days, though I did have a couple of video calls with my line manager in the last couple of months (so when I was getting ready to come back). It's not been an issue for me, and I can't really imagine what I'd have done for a full day (I don't have the kind of job where a single day's work could really be very productive, generally.)

Original poster
OvertiredOverthinker · 18/01/2022 11:16

@StEval

Just tell them next week is not convenient and currently you dont want to do any KIT days . They can be useful just before you go back -dry run type thing. I dont really understand why they are contacting you all the time on ML?
@StEval really it has just been occasional emails, when we were sorting my flexible working request and when people were leaving so I could sign their e-card, that sort i of thing, but I was just surprised at being asked to come into the office next week for a catch-up, particularly when most staff are working from home/only coming in for essential stuff! I think I will just say it’s not convenient next week and state I’m not looking to do any KIT days, definitely not until childcare can be arranged! I can certainly see why they would be useful shortly before going back properly though.
OP posts:
Original poster
OvertiredOverthinker · 18/01/2022 11:21

@110APiccadilly

I didn't do any full days, though I did have a couple of video calls with my line manager in the last couple of months (so when I was getting ready to come back). It's not been an issue for me, and I can't really imagine what I'd have done for a full day (I don't have the kind of job where a single day's work could really be very productive, generally.)
@110APiccadilly I can’t really imagine I’d get much done in one day either! Maybe going through emails would be helpful! I know others have taken part in training days/conferences onsite in the past but it’s all a bit different now with Covid. I would definitely be up for some video calls in the lead-up to going back though to discuss how team is currently working etc. Glad to hear not doing KIT days has not been an issue for you.
OP posts:
Original poster
OvertiredOverthinker · 18/01/2022 11:27

@namechange30455

Have you actually told them you don't want to do them? I don't think it's unreasonable of your manager to ask your thoughts tbh if you haven't mentioned it at all. If they're still pushy when you've said you're not planning to do any then yes that's not ok but I don't think that's the situation here?
@namechange30455 Good point! It’s more that they were mentioned before I finished and have been mentioned several times in emails about other things. I’ve never committed to anything or mentioned them myself, so I guess my thought was that if I didn’t mention them but am obviously aware of them, then it should be obvious I don’t wish to do any! But maybe I am being a bit unreasonable and just need to be more direct about it!
OP posts:
Original poster
OvertiredOverthinker · 18/01/2022 11:28

Thank you to everybody who has posted and suggested how I can respond, I appreciate it Smile

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread