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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:
Lcb123 · 01/02/2023 15:20

You can’t WFH with a baby on a regular basis, not fair to your employer or your baby. A lot of workplaces this would be grounds for dismissal. The training in the office is somewhat irrelevant.

LittleBearPad · 01/02/2023 15:21

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

And it’s not the affordable option

drpet49 · 01/02/2023 15:25

Lol working from home with a 10 month old. Pull the other one OP.

TidyDancer · 01/02/2023 15:28

It doesn't sound like what they're asking is unreasonable but what is your long term plan for childcare? You can't really be planning to work from home while looking after your baby so you must have something in place. Do you mean your office days would require more hours of childcare than you can afford or were you planning to have no childcare at all?

Moonrisewater · 01/02/2023 15:28

You need childcare regardless of whether you’re in the office or wfh. She probably assumes you have childcare in place, as you should. I’m due back soon and have nursery booked, I’d much rather keep my baby at home but there is no way I’d be able to get work done if I did. I don’t really make any money due to cost of childcare, so have been weighing up whether the even go back, but have decided to to keep my foot in the door! You really need to arrange childcare.

ShiverOfSharks · 01/02/2023 15:29

Just counting down until Miss I Earn £120k Working From Home In Marketing With My Baby And Do Two Hours A Day makes an appearance on this thread. They're like a siren call to her.

OP: what everyone else said. WFH no childcare, look forward to (best case) getting sacked (worst case) your baby getting badly hurt in an accident because you were trying to give two things your full attention, which is impossible.

catsandkid · 01/02/2023 15:42

Bigger issue here is childcare - regardless of whether you're in the office or at home you need childcare.

Most employers with Hybrid/WFH policy in place now have this in writing in their policies confirming that when working away from office you have an appropriate workspace and equipment and can work efficiently and effectively - meaning, it should be as productive a workspace as the office is.... not juggling a baby at the same time. Some even expressly state caring responsibilities at the same time is not permitted during WFH.

Please make sure to check the policies as you may end up breaching a workplace policy which could land you in disciplinary territory (you definintely wouldn't be the first)

Snowleopardess · 01/02/2023 16:00

I work 3 days WFH (though currently on Mat leave) and put my child 3 days in nursery from 12mths old when I went back - due to the nature of my role, I jobshared (so we covered the full 5 days with an overlap day on Wednesday) with another young woman in my team, with a baby 6mths older than mine, who only put her child into 3 half days nursery and had the child with her in the afternoon - work allowed it initially as it started during covid etc. i had no end of problems with my jobshare not pulling her weight / disappearing off for ages in the afternoons etc. workload was 70/30 I reckon with me doing the majority - I have a child the same age & there was NO WAY I could work from home with them. Your employer will know if you are looking after your child & not able to work - I’m sorry but you need to get proper childcare or not go back

MelchiorsMistress · 01/02/2023 16:03

You need to find childcare or leave your job. It is not right for you to try and take the piss out of your employer.

Whatislove82 · 01/02/2023 16:04

We have no l idea of your role or industry op

so training may be very important after a years break

Simonjt · 01/02/2023 16:05

Asking someone to do the job they are paid for isn’t too much to ask. My husbands employer has now completely stopped wfh due to the number of people taking the piss with things like childcare.

Quveas · 01/02/2023 16:33

Simonjt · 01/02/2023 16:05

Asking someone to do the job they are paid for isn’t too much to ask. My husbands employer has now completely stopped wfh due to the number of people taking the piss with things like childcare.

A slight tangent, but mine had gone even further and imposed a geographical limit on the distance "home" can be from the office. Unless you livewithin 90 miles from your office and /or had a wfh / flexible working agreement in place before the pandemic, you cannot work from home if you choose to live more than 90 minutes from your office. You can live wherever you like, but you have to attend the office every day. That was as a result of piss-takers who tried moving abroad / to places they'd never have dreamed of living in just because they thought that they would never be made to return to office working.

Dinoswearunderpants · 01/02/2023 16:45

Posts like this get me so annoyed. You are expecting to be paid for WFH yet you're going to be looking after a child?? You can not do both!

If you couldn't afford childcare, perhaps this should have been considered before having a child.

I also don't have any assistance from family however my child goes to a childminder three days a week, whilst I work.

WhatNoRaisins · 01/02/2023 16:56

Come on OP, I mean I can barely manage housework or phoning the bank when I'm looking after a toddler. How do you think you will manage to work?

Whadda · 01/02/2023 19:36

I’m guessing that OP’s employer know that she’ll attempt to work while minding her child, and they’re bringing her into the office indefinitely to avoid this.

dirt · 01/02/2023 19:37

You can't wfh with a baby.

CombatBarbie · 01/02/2023 19:53

incentigo · 01/02/2023 13:50

I don’t get any help with money or anything towards childcare. My baby is 10 months old, I can’t really afford child care at the minute

Hmmm... You can't work from home and look after a child. End of story. This is why employers are reluctant to approve it.

Did you not factor this into your budget when deciding if you were going back to work??

1smallhamsterfoot · 01/02/2023 19:56

incentigo · 01/02/2023 13:50

I don’t get any help with money or anything towards childcare. My baby is 10 months old, I can’t really afford child care at the minute

Op @incentigo isn’t gonna come back cos she knows she can’t work with a baby at home. If I was your colleague I’d be fucking fuming.

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 01/02/2023 20:21

Gosh, some people really do take the puss, don't they?! Can't believe that anyone would actually think it's OK to wfh with a baby and no childcare!

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 01/02/2023 20:22

Piss not puss!

Livinghappy · 01/02/2023 20:34

I wonder if her employer suspects the Op doesn't have childcare so is imposing "training" to ensure they get productivity.

Op, I know it's tough and all new mums panic about finances but you need childcare. You and her partner need to find a solution,it isn't just your responsibility.

Hoppinggreen · 01/02/2023 20:37

incentigo · 01/02/2023 13:50

I don’t get any help with money or anything towards childcare. My baby is 10 months old, I can’t really afford child care at the minute

So you plan on working and looking after your child at the same time?
You can’t

Grumpsy · 01/02/2023 20:39

You can’t wfh with a baby. End of story.

Littlebluedinosaur · 01/02/2023 20:50

I WFH. Baby goes to nursery. YABU.

DestinysGrandchild · 01/02/2023 20:55

Who's looking after the baby while you go into the office one day a week?

You can't work from home and look after a baby at the same time.

You've been off for a while so if you need to learn new things, you need to go in.

Your work already seem quite flexible (I'm guessing you've asked to do longer days for less days and they've agreed to it). Don't take the piss.

You'll need childcare or you won't be able to go back.