Communication whilst on maternity leave

[Pinkturtles]

I have been feeling increasingly frustrated by the communication between my line manager and me whilst on mat leave but want to know if I’m overreacting.

A couple of examples:

1 - before starting mat leave I specifically asked my line manager to message me on my personal number (provided) if promotion opportunities came up as there had been guidance these would be released. They didn’t do this despite vacancies being released within my team. I found out about the vacancies after seeing my manager post them on LinkedIn.

2 - I have asked to schedule in a couple of KIT days and asked if my manager could let me know of any team catch ups, department calls etc that are coming up that would be beneficial for me to KIT. They responded saying the team has been restructured now with a mat cover for me so little point in catching up directly. They said I should just use a KIT day to have a coffee with people in my regional office. My line manager works in a different office. They don’t want to directly catch up with me at all as it sounds like when I return I’ll be in a new team with a new reporting line. This hasn’t been officially communicated with me though.

The day I started leave my manager said she would fight for my promotion whilst I’m off but now it sounds like she’s washed her hands of me completely. I’m getting nervous about returning to work and how out of the loop I’ll be given that I can’t seem to schedule any proper KIT days.

I’ve escalated both of these instances to more senior team members but haven’t had any responses to my concerns. Do I have grounds to raise these with HR?

If you've not had responses to raising it through other channels, then I think it would be reasonable to make contact with HR in a calm way.

Did you find out about the promotion opportunities early enough to act on them?

Go to HR.

Not informing you about promotion opportunities is really bad.

Thanks. Yes I’ve submitted an application for the promotion roles a month ago but haven’t had an interview scheduled yet. I eventually mentioned this to a senior member of the department but they seemed to brush it off as my manager had just forgotten. I was willing to let it go as I did then apply but now the poor comms re KIT days has made me frustrated again.

This is a huge company with robust HR and generally extremely supportive of parents which is why I am so exasperated as I know this is not how other people in other teams are treated!

Definitely use the kit days to go in for coffee such easy money and you can informally ask people what's going on
You could also ask with a teams call on the day with your line manager or hr

If you have good HR I would definitely raise it with them. Maybe try to have a call with the relevant managers first so that you can't be seen to have gone "behind their backs".

I feel exactly the same as you OP. Currently on month 9 and have barely heard from Line Manager.

They sent a large gift (he wasn't responsible for this) I called to thank him. He cancelled call and responded with what's app. I had a problem logging on to get my payslips as my account had been deactivated by IT. Again I called and call cancelled and what's app sent.

He contacted me in April to arrange a call. I said yes let me have some dates. Heard nothing.

I contacted him in June to arrange keeping in touch days. He said let's meet for coffee, fine with me. I tx him 2 days before to check we are still on for the date, he says he actually on annual leave and will sort something when he returns to office.

Since then I've had a message to say he's moving on from the role and will let me know who new line manager will be. I've just messaged since and told him what day I will do a KIT day and arranging with people on the same grade so someone else will be in the office. This is a very large company who had previously been good with HR issues.

Do you have your IT taken from you while on maternity leave, I.e. have you lost the ability to search for internal vacancies? When are you due back to work?

Is it your first maternity leave? I found going on maternity leave a very humbling experience. I thought I was essential to my work place and valued but soon realised I was completely replaceable and easily forgotten. I didn’t take it personally as it is the same for everyone. It did change my attitude to work when I returned (in a way that worked better for me). HR should be fine but your colleagues will be dealing with your maternity cover person or covering your work and are unlikely to have much time for you. It is rubbish but that is the way it was for every workplace I have been in. It was fine once I returned. People do want to see if you come back full time, how you are once you are back and also will expect you to have another child quite soon. This is always unsaid but is definitely considered.

It's my understanding that they're not allowed to contact you on work matters whilst on mat leave.

I’d expect nothing on Mat leave. I’m guessing your manager is probably dealing with the people in front of them, rather than unseen. Or maybe a co worker stepped up while you’re gone and they are front runner.

if that’s your workplace culture then that’s nice, but mostly (I suppose depends on your country) parental leave just garenteens you have a job when you get back with the same salary. Often they push people down a sideways set of stairs, I’ve never seen anyone come back to a promotion. Or even get one in the next 5 years. But my company is huge and unless you get the government involved HR will not back you in any way shape or form. So they suck.

best of luck.

1. speak to your union
2. Look at Acas - https://www.acas.org.uk/your-maternity-leave-pay-and-other-rights/while-youre-on-maternity-leave
3. you could make a discrimination case and therefore could raise a grievance. Given this talk to your Har tomorrow and explain what is happening. In large organisations poor managers don’t often seek guidance from HR. Bypass the manager and explain. You could gently suggest that your considering maki by a formal complaint, that should put some rocket fuel into the situation.

Lol raising a discrimination case and grievance is a sure fire way to make sure you never get promoted. Idiotic advice

Wouldn’t they have already shortlisted and potentially even interviewed by now? What was the closing day for applications?

Btw I’ve posted this in work and not AIBU for a reason! I’ve had professional advice on this before when they didn’t tell me about the internal promotions and yes the organisation is in the wrong here. Regardless I’m going to speak to HR and bow out of this thread now because the advice is turning unhelpful.

The posts aren’t rude or unhelpful. They just aren’t necessarily saying what you want to hear. The truth is, whether right or wrong, if they wanted you for the promotion they would have been in touch.

@StormingNorman they haven’t started interviewing yet actually, they have told me this.

I was on maternity leave when I was in the Army 20 years ago & got promoted so it can happen even in that overwhelmingly male environment

Remember HR are not the police, they will go to the manager and ask how they would like to proceed, a lot of people seem to think HR or going to HR are some sort of referee, they most certainly are not.

There should be a policy in place to keep you informed of any suitable vacancies if you’re unable to access your work inbox/intranet.

This happened to me whilst I was on my first Mat Leave and I actually missed a promotion and only found out about it after they had appointed the new person. I submitted a formal grievance which was upheld and a new procedure has been put in place for future colleague on Mat Leave. You should be afforded the same opportunities as everyone else & having a baby should not affect your progress.

I would absolutely speak to HR, and find out what their processes and procedures should be as it sounds as if they’re falling short for you.

Thanks for the advice on this. I did raise with HR and someone has been in touch with me. I also do have an interview scheduled now for the promotion role. Hopefully communication starts to improve!

I just wanted to update this thread to say that I have been offered the promoted role to commence on my return to work next year!

Well done! Hope it comes with a more effective manager :)

@Pinkturtles thank you for updating. Congratulations on the promotion.