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Original poster

Maternity end and return to work rights

113 replies

incentigo · 01/02/2023 13:45

So I’m going back to work in March and I’m working myself up too much I feel physically sick thinking about it. I’m going back to work doing compressed hours (4 days into 3) with 1 day working in the office the rest from home (everyone does 1 day in the office) My manager has said due to been off for so long I will need to be “trained” again which means coming into the office everyday as it is now a requirement but she can’t give me a time scale on how long it will take, it’s based on how quick I pick things up and get signed off. I’m not really happy about this due to how I’m feeling not only that I can’t afford child care and have no family to watch my baby if I was to go in the office (mine & partners family work) i don’t understand where she’s expecting me to find childcare everyday to be able to “train” again in the office.

I’m just asking if anyone has any advice on what I can do…I know it’s work and sometimes we don’t have a choice but this is too much to ask surely…😓

OP posts:
AuroraForever · 01/02/2023 14:07

Who’s looking after the baby when you go in for one day a week?

To be fair, the IT and any processes may have changed a lot since you’ve been off so it’s not unreasonable at all for them to ask you to go in for training. They would assume you have childcare in place as you’d have to have it in place if you’re WFH.

Perhaps you thought that WFH meant you don’t need childcare as you’ll be there to look after the baby. If this is the case you’re being unreasonable expecting a salary for doing this! They pay you to work, not to look after your child!

Danikm151 · 01/02/2023 14:08

childcare choices will help with seeing what help you can get.

I work full time as a single parent. My son started nursery at 10 months and UC pays 85% of that.

iloveyankeecandle · 01/02/2023 14:10

Are you not entitled to the 20% tax free childcare? If you're not then that means one of you is earning over 100k a month, in which case I'd say you can afford the childcare!

sotired2 · 01/02/2023 14:10

Sorry but if you are WFH you should be 100% concentrating on work at that time not looking after your baby so should have adequate child care in place. I know its expensive as been there and got the t-shirt. You either need to find childcare to fit this role or get a different role which means you work when partner around to look after baby.

Mariposista · 01/02/2023 14:16

You cannot WFH and care for a child. Both will suffer.
In my place of work, you would be pulled back in full time to the office and WFH revoked if they found out you were doing this. One week to make arrangements then back in.

Ponderingwindow · 01/02/2023 14:19

Needing to retrain indefinitely is odd.
I wonder if your employer has caught on to the fact that you are trying to get around securing proper childcare. Forcing you into the office under other pretenses might be their way of addressing the issue.

Childcare is not optional. If you are going to work, you have to find someone to watch your child, even if you wfh.

Marblessolveeverything · 01/02/2023 14:21

I have seen employers do this to ensure child care is in place. Wfh won't be possible with a baby.

FeinCuroxiVooz · 01/02/2023 14:25

this is a very sensible policy on the part of the employers to identify employees who are intending to "work from home" whilst actually doing childcare and not their job. they get to see your productivity in the office with no childcare distractions and will spot the difference quicker if the same level isn't maintained when WFH

if you are on a low income then most of your childcare costs will be covered by UC

VivaVivaa · 01/02/2023 14:26

Crazy. I think, unless you have an incredibly easy job that can be done over a few hours a day, at any time of the day, wfh with a 10 mo will be very difficult. The other side of age 1 it’ll be close to impossible.

DrMarciaFieldstone · 01/02/2023 14:29

FeinCuroxiVooz · 01/02/2023 14:25

this is a very sensible policy on the part of the employers to identify employees who are intending to "work from home" whilst actually doing childcare and not their job. they get to see your productivity in the office with no childcare distractions and will spot the difference quicker if the same level isn't maintained when WFH

if you are on a low income then most of your childcare costs will be covered by UC

This. It’s remarkably easy to spot, tbh. It also makes the old argument mostly from men of why they don’t like to implement flexible working easier for them to wheel out, which is incredibly frustrating for the ones who use it as they should.

America12 · 01/02/2023 14:34

How are you going to WFH with your baby there ? I think you've misunderstood WFH if you think you don't need childcare on those days.

Suzi9989 · 01/02/2023 14:37

Pls talk to your other half. You can not work and look after your baby at the same time. Save yourself some stress you can not do both! Pay for childcare or not return

Quveas · 01/02/2023 14:42

Echoing what everyone else has said, although I suspect it may fall on deaf ears. Working from home is not compatible with looking after a child, and the vast majority of employers have clear policies on such things. Where I work, ignoring that policy is a disciplinary offence and could possibly lead to dismissal.

If you cannot afford childcare, then you need to be a sahm for now and look for a job that you can fit around the family.

Babyenroute · 01/02/2023 14:47

I agree with the other posters- you definitely cannot work from home with a baby there, it should be treated in the same way as working from the office and it really worries me that people even consider doing this as may end up ruining the ability to wfh for all of us! I don't think your employer is doing anything wrong here. I would reconsider childcare options as there must be a way.

EspeciallyDetermined · 01/02/2023 14:50

Is the problem because of the length of the commute and needing longer childcare for that? What childcare arrangements have you got in place now? As everyone else has said, you must have childcare for your working hours whether that is at home or in the office.

LittleBearPad · 01/02/2023 14:50

You do need to look into options for childcare.

Bear in mind this isn’t just your cost. It’s also your DH’s cost. Some husbands seem to forget this.

DottyLittleRainbow · 01/02/2023 14:56

It’s quite common to need to do some updating after maternity leave before recommencing a role properly, a lot can change in a year, this isn’t unreasonable.

You also can’t WFH and care for your baby, this is unreasonable, so you will stitch yourself up if you approach your boss with this as the reason you can’t do the in office updating.

I suggest discussing with your partner and finding childcare for the other 2 days, that you can split the cost of (you shouldn’t have to pay for it all just because you had the maternity leave).

LIZS · 01/02/2023 14:59

Have you done any KIT days as that may be an opportunity to update and retrain as required before you return.

RB68 · 01/02/2023 15:04

You need to relook at paying for childcare, check whether work for you or your partner has salary sacrifice schemes for childcare vouchers (I think this is still a thing) and you save the tax (- but watch this as your pensionable salary changes as well) look at UC as even if you are not entitled to any pyt you maybe able to get the childcare element of it. Look at different sorts of childcare arrangements for different costs and flexibility.

I would also go back to manager and ask specifically what the training programme is and timescales - not unreasonable as your childcare will still change if you have to include a commute and e.g. you cant do compressed hours on training. Also is there an online training modules - no need to be in office for those either (so are alternative delivery options there for training). Personally I would check what has happened with others returning to work from Mat leave and make sure treatment is equitable - this might mean contact with HR and some carefully phrased questions around how long "training" might take. If its not a regulated environment I would also question what exactly training consists of after less than a year out

keepaweatheredeye · 01/02/2023 15:04

You can't WFH with a 10 month old. You need to find alternative arrangements.

HimalayaSalts · 01/02/2023 15:05

Hi OP, I know most of the comments are probably making you feel worse, but it's true it's just not possible to wfh and take care of a baby, you'll be feeling awful guilt and it's not fair to the baby.

It's 3 days a week right ? Maybe look into an affordable childminder who will come to your home, you'll keep a close eye because you're right there but at the same time baby has someone to interact with, or ask your DP to give up those days if that's an option, it's tough

People in my home country always wondered why people in Europe don't have many kids, now I know, the woman or the couple simply have no help and are expected to make a living at the same time, don't overestimate your power or you'll burn out too quick, it does take a village but that village doesn't exist anymore

trampoline123 · 01/02/2023 15:11

You're the one BU not your employer.

It's in your best interests to do training, it's good they are keeping you updated with the changes to make your transition back to work as easy as possible. Can you use your KIT days to do some of it?

WFH with a baby is just not possible. You won't be able to work properly particularly if you are doing condensed hours as it is. ITS ALSO NOT FAIR ON THE BABY! They need attention and stimulation.

Yes, childcare is expensive - join the rest of the working parents and dish out all your salary to childcare. Sadly that's reality.

You can get tax free childcare and childminders are generally cheaper than nurseries.

RoseAndRose · 01/02/2023 15:16

It's not realistic to WFH without childcare until your DC is about age 8-10 and it's becoming increasingly common for employers to set policies requiring WFH employees to demonstrate that they are not in sole charge of DC below a set age during working hours

So what childcare will you have for your WFH days? Is there really no way to extend it to cover commute time too?

LIZS · 01/02/2023 15:16

Maybe look into an affordable childminder who will come to your home, ie. A nanny? You then become an employer , responsible for tax , ni , hr etc

BritishDesiGirl · 01/02/2023 15:17

Echoing everyone one else, it isn't okay to WFH while taking care of your baby. It's also very unfair to other colleagues many of whom will have children but have childcare arrangements in place. I wouldn't be surprised or unsympathetic to an employer who pulled you up on this of you took this route.

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