Returning from maternity, altered role

[ARealFake]

I don't know where I stand with this, I don't want to rock the boat as I love my job but I'm not going back to the exact same role.

I'm returning from a year's maternity leave next year and I've dropped my hours by one day. I work as a Personal Assistant, my contract says PA to XXX so a specific person. Because of the drop in hours I've been told I cannot go back to the same role, I will be in the same team, the same line manager, the same everything but I will be PA to someone else, I'm not happy about this as have a great relationship with the person I PA to but they want someone full time.

Would you say nothing and see how it goes? My maternity cover is now going to do my job full time, I feel really upset by this.

You’re only entitled to the exact same job (on the same terms) if you return after 6 months.

You’re effectively requesting a change to your employment contract and they are making a change to enable that for you.

If you’ve been off for a year you are not entitled to go back to the exact same role

If the person you were PA to wants a full time person and you want 4 days then I don't see what other outcome is possible? What do you suggest?

That’s not an alternative role.

You’re still a PA on the same terms and conditions (albeit an agreed reduction in working hours). Supporting someone else doesn’t mean your job is different- no different than if the person you were supporting left, and a new person came in.

Same happened to me, although several years ago. I informed my Company that I wished to return part time, I was PA to 2 directors, one of whom retired whilst I was on maternity. I left in April, had baby early May and was contacted in July to ask if I was going to return to work, not in my position, but as Receptionist as my role was no longer available as director had retired. I informed them that I would think about it if money was the same and if the job was part time. I then got a phone call to say if I couldn’t do the receptionist job full time I would be made redundant, which is what happened, but I had to go back to work my notice which was 2 months, but there wasn’t a job for me to do, let alone a desk.

My contract says PA to XXX whereas this job is PA to YYY, like I say I love the place etc. I'm just worried about 'looking after' someone else who's department I have no interest in, I was so happy to PA for someone doing something so interesting but I wouldn't have applied to work for this Director. Maybe I'm being silly and it will be ok, I just feel gutted.

So as I said before OP, what do you suggest? XXX wants a full time PA. You're not going to be full time?

You’ve been off for over 26 weeks so you’ve no choice in the matter.

So you'd have your current boss with 2 pas?

My contract says PA to XXX whereas this job is PA to YYY

It's irrelevant. You're not entitled to go back to the same role because you've been off more than 26 weeks. It'll either be fine, or it won't, but ultimately if it's not then it would be your prerogative to leave.

I suspected it was a suck it up situation, tough luck get on with it or go back full time, I just wanted to check others views as I've never been in this position before and wasn't sure if it's classed as the exact same role, which from replied it is. Appreciate the responses

Apologies for all the grammar and typos, on my phone while baby napping - I am a good PA

Poor grammar! Bloody hell!

No, it’s not classed as the same role, but it doesn’t need to be - it only needs to be similar.

If XXX left, would you expect your job to end also, or would you expect the company to continue your employment?

If XXX left I would expect to work for their replacement

It doesn't have to be the exact same role. You don't seem to understand that.

@WYorkshireRose with respect, you're right I don't understand which is why I came on here to ask, I still don't understand but appreciate the consensus is that I have to get on with it, as I suspected, I really don't appreciate being made to feel stupid.

Then you're acknowledging that your employment is as a PA, not as a PA to XXX specifically. (And it would probably take months to recruit XXX's replacement, during which time I imagine you'd expect to be paid.) You can't have it both ways; it no longer works for you to PA for XXX, so you can PA for someone else or leave the role.

No, @SylvieLaufeydottir I'm
PA to Chief XX. If they left I would still be PA to Chief XX but Chief XX would be a different person and I would PA to both during the handover period. I'm now going to PA for Chief YY, different area of the business entirely, ie HR or Finance, IT or operations.

Would you consider asking them about doing three full days and two half days? Then you would have the same time off, but also be in 5 days. Appreciate that might not work for thr childcare you have organised.

If Chief XX left and there was a delay in recruitment then I would be PA to Interim Chief XX. Not expect to be paid for nothing.

Thank you, that's a really helpful suggestion and one I hadn't thought of, I had thought either get on with it or go back full time.

Very common IME for roles to change after mat leave, even just due to restructures.

I don’t think there’s anything you can say tbh. Regardless of mat leave, a company doesn’t actually have to honour a reduction in hours or flexible working. For example, I went down to 4 days in my role. I was told I could not go down to 3 days in my specific role as it meant a project wouldn’t be finished on time and I would need to change roles.

That’s likely to result in 100% childcare costs and 80% pay.