Maternity Grievance and sick leave

[Mumof3kidss]

Unfortunately, whilst being on maternity leave my employer has sourced a new line manager without informing me, given that this was a role I was training and preparing for prior to maternity leave, I am most aggrieved and have raised the grievance with HR. During my ML I have received a lot of pressure from my manager to have keeping in touch days, something which I’ve not felt up to doing. a culmination of those two things have caused a lot of undue stress, and with my return to workday fast approaching I’m contemplating seeing my GP and taking some time off for the stress.

I just wondered if any of your lovely parents had any thoughts on the above and if you’ve been through anything similar? I’m feeling pretty bad about taking further time off.

Yes it is odd that my line manager was in contact and only felt it necessary to inform me once the candidate and been placed in the role.

By training they wanted 3 days away from home at the other end of the country when my baby was 3 months old.

I think this is a terrible way for employer to treat their long standing employee! You must be both happy for being a mum to a lovely baby (congratulations!) And so infuriated with losing so much.

I would contact working families. Mat leave is protected but when it's up, I'm sure your employer will pull some other stunt that you need to be prepared for.

Pregnant then screwed is another excellent service. The woman who ran it was in a similar situation to you some 8-10 years ago and is the woman who campaigned for more childcare hours.

If you're sick, please go sick. Don't put any unnecessary stress on you because of an awful employer. Stay strong with kit days. If you're not ready, you're not ready (for rubbish employer!)

Oh stop now! Speaking of people being ridiculous.......since apparently that is not name calling.

The training for 3 days... How did you not laugh in shock?! That's a disgrace!

How can they justify something so ridiculous with you leaving a precious newborn so long?!

Thank you! such helpful suggestions, I will definitely look into those.

I’ve been informed that the law has recently changed and maternity protection is up until 18 months.

Just done some googling which was eye opening! So if the job was advertised externally only and this is common it is unlikely that you would have a claim that you were disadvantaged (but you could look into this more). However it appears that if the job was advertised internally then there could be a case that they have hindered your career progression. It would also be interesting what your maternity policy states about keeping in touch.

Oh and the 3 day training - reasonable for them to ask, reasonable for you to say no. In fact I don’t think there is any requirement to undertake any KIT days but again depends on your policy.

They’ll be accused of ‘not offering you the opportunity’ if they don’t.
can’t win, too much context v not enough

Role was not advertised externally it was only communicated internally.

the person who got the role did not apply for it directly, they applied for an alternative role and were placed in to this one instead.

They have no qualifications for the role, undertook a basic certificate post appointment. Have little to no experience.

I am not personally attacking them, but it highlights that they are not competent but were placed in the role regardless.

If the job was advertised via the company dial channels eg website then the employer discharged their duty to inform the OP of openings.

An employer is not obligated to send each employee on maternity leave a bespoke list of current vacancies they may be interested in every week.

Actually, they are legally required to contact me about any promotion opportunities.

No one expects a full list of irrelevant vacancies!

It’s not you standing your ground so much as the way you go about it. You’re being quite abrasive.

They’re not unless you have no other way of accessing vacancies.

It’s not for you to judge the competence. The person recruiting saw something they liked to give them a role they didn’t even apply for.

Would you rather I be soft and delicate about my career being hindered.

Re you last post: if the vacancy wasn’t posted externally, how do you suggest I find out about it whilst on maternity leave.

I'm not finding you abrasive in the slightest, op. Sounds very stressful. Please allow yourself to take the time off if you need it.

What's the usual process for internal candidates to find out about vacancies, OP?

You need to update your union training as it is required that employers keep staff on maternity leave and indeed sick leave informed of any vacancies.

Usual process is email notification or in person by management

You're being even more ridiculous now.

Are you really that naive??? I've stood back and watched many an incompetent and unqualified person be appointed to a post because their face fitted. And they are shit in the job as well!! I found notes today from 5 years ago when an employee was shadowing me. Since that, she's been promoted twice, several grades up. She doesn't have a clue. She's not even articulate and she stood up at a conference and confessed she had a Mickey Mouse degree! Seriously!

Have you only taken 6 months maternity leave? If so, could you ask to extend that instead of going off sick?

KIT days are very much optional and intended to benefit the employee. Employers have no right to pressure women on maternity leave to complete them.

The number of women who complete all 10 are minimal in the extreme. At most it is 2/3.

How can you term a woman standing up for her rights as "abrasive"? That is actually disgusting!

I think you will find they are.