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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:
EasterIsland · 01/02/2023 21:09

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

What about the baby's father? He's equally responsible for childcare. You can't work and care for your child simultaneously.

Deathbyfluffy · 01/02/2023 21:15

The clue is in the acronym - the ‘w’ is for work.
You can’t work and look after a 10 month old at the same time - you’ll need to arrange childcare or leave your job.

Original poster
incentigo · 01/02/2023 23:29

im a first time fucking mother with a baby ON MY OWN! I asked for advice not fucking horrible comments. I’ve never done this before. Alls I was looking for is what I could do with childcare, the help I could get, money I could maybe get. Christ! I won’t be posting on here again. What a horrible site!

OP posts:
Overthebow · 01/02/2023 23:37

You need childcare for all your working days. Work are within their rights to ask you in for as many days as they want.

Original poster
incentigo · 01/02/2023 23:39

Did I say at any point I want to work from home with my baby?

OP posts:
LittleBearPad · 01/02/2023 23:42

Your OP certainly suggested it and you also said “mine & partners family work” so no suggestion you’re on your own.

Original poster
incentigo · 01/02/2023 23:45

1smallhamsterfoot · 01/02/2023 19:56

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.

Show quote history

FYI i didn’t ask or want to work from home with a fucking baby!

OP posts:
AnneLovesGilbert · 01/02/2023 23:47

incentigo · 01/02/2023 23:45

FYI i didn’t ask or want to work from home with a fucking baby!

Show quote history

Then why are you planning to do it?

LittleBearPad · 01/02/2023 23:48

Your OP said

“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)”

?

Overthebow · 01/02/2023 23:49

incentigo · 01/02/2023 23:45

FYI i didn’t ask or want to work from home with a fucking baby!

Show quote history

What’s the problem then? Baby goes to whatever childcare you’ve sorted and you go to the office for your training.

AnneLovesGilbert · 01/02/2023 23:50

You have a partner, how are you on your own?

Original poster
incentigo · 01/02/2023 23:50

AnneLovesGilbert · 01/02/2023 23:47

Then why are you planning to do it?

Show quote history

I’m not planning to do it…did I say anywhere I was planning or wanting to do it! I’m asking for advice what I can do. What other people get entitled too…

OP posts:
Original poster
incentigo · 01/02/2023 23:51

AnneLovesGilbert · 01/02/2023 23:50

You have a partner, how are you on your own?

My partner works away most the time. I’m basically a single mother! Does my life matter. I’m asking for any advice as new parent

OP posts:
antipodeancanary · 01/02/2023 23:52

Oh dear

Original poster
incentigo · 01/02/2023 23:55

LittleBearPad · 01/02/2023 23:48

Your OP said

“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)”

?

Yes it does…so I don’t have family to watch my baby and I can’t afford it so I’m asking is there anything that helps with childcare costs…

OP posts:
AnneLovesGilbert · 01/02/2023 23:55

You’ve had lots of advice. Arrange suitable childcare for your baby. You say you’ve committed to compressed hours over 3 days, 1 in the office. And you’re starting back in March. So who is going to care for your baby?

Overthebow · 01/02/2023 23:57

incentigo · 01/02/2023 23:55

Yes it does…so I don’t have family to watch my baby and I can’t afford it so I’m asking is there anything that helps with childcare costs…

Show quote history

How much do you earn? You could be eligible for tax free childcare, or UC help depending on salary.

N00bz · 01/02/2023 23:58

incentigo · 01/02/2023 23:55

Yes it does…so I don’t have family to watch my baby and I can’t afford it so I’m asking is there anything that helps with childcare costs…

Show quote history

If your boyfriend is working away, surely he’s doing that for a role that pays well rather than minimum wage?

You’re choosing to work 0.8fte.

Why would two people in your situation be “entitled to help”?

FirstFallopians · 02/02/2023 00:03

I’m sympathetic to your situation OP, but honestly you’re shooting the messengers here.

Your posts up to now are very much giving the impression that you are going to attempt to WFH while trying to juggle caring for an infant. Of course this is getting people’s backs up- a lot of us have been in a similar predicament, but have sucked up the costs and accepted that the flexibility that comes with working from home shouldn’t be taken for granted.

It’s much better that people here are disabusing you of this idea now, on an anonymous forum, as opposed to your actual boss making it a disciplinary matter when you return to work.

skilpadde · 02/02/2023 00:07

You're planning to squeeze 4 working days into 3. Your posts suggests you're hoping to do 2 of those days at home alone with your baby, leaving 1 day a week in the office when you'll be able to focus on the job.

Women are giving you advice because they know you've given yourself an impossible task, and you're being offered advice on how to fix it.

They're trying to help you. Your current plan is a fast track to being dismissed from your job.

Lysianthus · 02/02/2023 00:18

Good luck OP Smile

TheShellBeach · 02/02/2023 00:34

incentigo · 01/02/2023 23:39

Did I say at any point I want to work from home with my baby?

You have suggested it, because you have bi childcare in place and you're giving back to work in a few weeks.
Who is going to look after your baby while you work from home?

TheShellBeach · 02/02/2023 00:35

No

Babyroobs · 02/02/2023 00:36

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

You surely aren't thinking that you can work at home and look after a baby without childcare?

TheShellBeach · 02/02/2023 00:38

OP, what did you and your partner plan to do while you were pregnant?
You must have thought about this.