Hi all, there is two parts to this so please bare with me.
Due to come back to work after maternity leave in April. This will mean I have the full 12 months. I work for a small family run business, and I was the only person doing my job. Before I went off the employed a male, on a full time contract, working less hours but on the same pay as me. That’s another story. I’m aware this is illegal, however, they have offered me a £4000 pay rise and better hours when I return to become a “supervisor “ work load from other department will increase. Fine. February and March are really busy months and “HR/ Office Manager” has been bothering me for the past few weeks about returning in February. I have said no numerous times saying I want to spend the full 12 months with my son. I’ve bumped into her outside of work, and on KIT days, where’s she’s asked me the same thing. I’ve suggested that I come back in Feb on 2 days a week until April to help them out, and then return properly in April. She’s said she will think about it, but haven’t heard since so can’t be that desperate. Since being off on maternity leave it seems their feelings towards me has changed. One minute they are saying they really need me back in February, and that I am missed around the office and then in the next breath make me feel like I have been replaced and no longer needed. “Couldn’t afford” to pay for my kit days. This Said manager got drunk one night and promised me the world, saying if I come back in February I can have even more money and she’s desperate, but only if I come back in feb and original offer stands if I come back in April, to then retract completely when I shows up Monday morning asking what the hell was going on. I’m in two minds, do I tell her to shove it up her backside, or return in Feb for abit of peace.
following on, I have retrained whilst on maternity leave. It’s been bloody hard work studying whilst pregnant and submitting assignments when I had a new born but I got through it and obtained my professional qualification. All of this without employer knowing as I didn’t plan to go back to that place at all after having my baby, as it is the definition of Mickey Mouse. It’s dead end and I’ve had enough. Cliquey culture. Can I find anything in my new field? No! Everyone wants HR experience even though I have bags of administration and management experience plus a CIPD qualification. I’ve gone back to the drawing board, considering a longer commute or more hours to get a basic HR administration job. I’ve had 2 interviews where I was unsuccessful as I was told they found a more suitable candidate. I’ve enrolled with a recruitment agency specialist for HR. Nothing. I’m willing to take a pay cut in order to get the experience and get on with my life.
what do I do? Seriously. What do I do? Go back to a dead end job where I’m having to fight my manager to pay me for KIT days and bank holiday entitlement or leave and do something else completely until something suitable in HR comes up? I feel like I am at my wits end.
help!