Restructure - just started MAT leave

[Hopeful1992]

After some advice really. I am due with my first baby in 5 days, I only started MAT leave last Monday. On my first day of leave I got a call from work asking me to join a meeting about a restructure the team is going through meaning some redundancies.
I’ve been told basically my job will be safe so that isn’t my issue, it’s that they’re expecting me to join 3 meetings in total in the next 30 days.
I had one last week and the next should be next week but I am obviously due any day. I don’t think it’s fair I should have to join these so close to either having or having had the baby, I will be physically and emotionally knackered!! It’s also bothering me having to arrange meetings and then being responsible for updating working should I go into labour etc.
anyone have any ideas where I would stand with this? I rang HR to discuss but they referred me back to my head of service - he’s been lovely but stands by that I have to have the meetings

Call ACAS or speak to pregnanthenscrewed

They want to keep you in the loop, if you have time join if your don't have time don't. If it's on teams you could log in and keep camera and mic off and go about your business for the hour or so

I think it's in your interest to attend, but I don't believe they can make you. I had to make a whole team redundant and that included a lady on mat leave about 20 years ago. She was invited to every meeting but didn't attend. She had the same deal as everyone else, but her garden leave and payment didn't come until after her mat leave concluded. These were in person meetings of course as we didn't have zoom and teams then.

'Sorry, that doesn't work for me. Send me the slides/minutes for the meetings and I'll have a look at them on a keep in touch day day at some point before I go back to work.'

You will have a job to go back to no, you are or texted under maternity leave.

It may not be the same role.

Sounds like they are just trying to keep you updated but you don't have to attend any meetings or do and use it as kit days and get paid.

Thanks all - just to confirm these aren’t whole team meetings where I can just ask them to send me the slides etc these are 1-1 meetings.
I wouldn’t mind if I was a few months etc into my leave but I don’t think it’s fair I’m expected to keep work updated when I’m in labour etc so they can rearrange r meetings- they’re the last people I should be thinking about. This is my first baby but I can imagine nobody is in the right frame of mind for work meetings within days of giving birth, it’s also precious time I shouldn’t have to think about these things
like I say I’ve been told that I have nothing to worry about and will be slotted into one of the jobs, I didn’t know if I had a right to ask for things to be in writing instead etc. I’ll try HR again

Iirc you cannot be expected to do anything within 2 weeks of birth and future meetings could be deemed KIT days. They need to be very careful about enforcing this during your ml and you have every right to refuse.

I think that this has arisen because they must offer you these meetings - it's the law. That doesn't mean you must attend - so you could ask for them to send any information in writing, and equally you can choose to not engage either in person or in writing (although I would avoid doing so if you can manage it) - but if you refuse that is on you, if they don't offer it is breaking the law! Obviously the timing isn't great, so I understand how you feel, but they aren't doing it for any nefarious reason. Timing is often bad for someone in such matters, and this time it just happens to be bad for you.

Thanks everyone for your help, I’ve emailed explaining the situation and asked if the next meeting can be replaced with an email/letter outlining everything! Fingers crossed!