Going back to work after Maternity Leave

[BeChirpyBiscuit]

Hello,

I am just wanting some advice on how to approach this. I am due to go back to work at the end of this month. My team leader has contacted me last week asking me what my plans are.

Long story short, me and my husband have both decided to not put our baby into nursery yet. We have also just found out we are pregnant again. The plan was, as I have accrued 41 days of annual leave, I would go back to work 2 days a week and use annual leave to have 3 days a week off, which would give us a few months to see how we get on. The 2 days a week that I would work would be in accordance with my partners days off so he can watch baby while I work.

I have discussed this with my team leader who said this will be a bit messy as only a certain amount of people can be off at the same time and if I want a certain date off and there is no availability, they wouldn't be able to accommodate. He suggested that I take all my annual leave and start later on a phased return and then apply for flexible working.

The problem with his suggestion is, while that would be lovely having another 41 days off, I would also much rather spread out my annual leave to work part time while on full time pay so when I go on Maternity Leave in August, I would be entitled to full time Maternity Pay and not Part Time.

Another option would be to take all 41 days off and go back on phased return but pre booking 3 days off a week in the new financial year up until my maternity starts but also not guaranteed to get all dates off.

My team leader did say if I do want to go with the option of taking 3 days off a week, I should email him all the dates and he will talk to the operational manager to see if this is possible.

Just not sure what would be the best thing to do here so some advice would be great.

P.s. We don't leave near any of our families so can't have family looking after the baby either.

I don’t think you can unilaterally decide to take 3 days of leave per week.. I’d just apply for flexible working ?

In fact I’d be pretty pissed off if because you have decided to take 3 days annual leave per week I couldn’t then book a week of my own leave, due to not being able to have too many people off at once

You apply for annual leave and your employer will approve it if it can be accommodated. You do not get to just “plan” to take three days off a week.

It might be worth seeing what they can do - if they can make most of your dates work maybe your DH can use his annual leave to cover the others? It does sound like they are trying to be accommodating, your 2 day working week at full pay is in your interests, not theirs.

I used AL to take off 1 day a week after DC1 was born, but where I worked didn't have a minimum level of cover so that didn't affect anyone else being able to request time off!

As per others. You need to request leave in the usual way and await approval. But I wouldn’t hold your breath on it being approved - it’s a lot for them to accommodate. 1 day per week maybe but 3 days managerial would be a bit of a pain.

Just to be clear, the 3 days off a week was only an option because I have seen several of my colleagues do this to work part time using their annual leave.

I mean, I can plan. I never once said I've planned and it has to happen. I know things don't always go as planned. Hence why I'm here asking for advice.

I have several colleagues who were doing this with their leaves before I went on maternity hence why I had it as an option. But yes, understandable that it can be frustrating for others.

Were your colleagues going to be taking more maternity leave though? It does seem like you are “playing the system” working part time but getting full time pay and maternity pay, plus the leave you will accrue while off again.
Realistically, do you intend to return to work after the next spell of maternity leave?

people’s responses are interesting to me. When I returned from my first maternity a few years ago I took one day a week off using annual leave before officially going part time. The HR girl actually was the one who told me that many people use their accrued annual leave to do this! My company is very flexible and supportive of parents so I’m not sure whether it’s that or whether it’s your right. Obviously it’s your right to take your accrued annual leave from the previous year so how else would they want you to take it? The alternative is usually use it to take longer off, would they prefer to have you 2 days or no days?? I’m not sure what the rules are though around it

Its not playing the system when I am using the leave I'm entitled to. And yes, I do intend to return as this is a job I've always wanted and worked so hard to get into. Otherwise, I would've handed my notice in already.

I think people are unhappy about the fact that I want to take 3 days a week off rather than 1. I also thought this is what people do, use their accrued annual leave to work part time.

To think the responses are coming from mums who know how difficult it can be returning to work is shocking. Seems like you are trying to judge her because shes pregnant again and will be going on maternity leave again. Shocking coming from a woman and a mother. Stop making OP sound selfish for wanting to use her accrued annual leave to work part time. Atleast she is actually trying to get back to work and not opting for government benefits. She mentioned her colleagues do this so whats the harm in her asking if its possible for her to do it? Some places require you to work a certain amount of time after maternity leave or pay some of your maternity pay back so what makes you think this isnt the case with OP? Would she still be playing the system? She is literally asking for advice so put your big girl pants on and give advice rather than judging a mother when you are one yourself.

Personally OP, I would take the 41 days off. Youll be off till the end of March. That gives you more time to decide on what you want to do and it gives you time to also put in a flexible working request. Do what you need to do momma!

@ThatDreamyGreyMember There’s no harm in asking. I’m just trying to consider this from the employers perspective (I’m a manager as well as a mother) and explaining why they might be pushing back with her whereas they may not have with colleagues.
I also had two spells of maternity leave close together and I’m certainly not judging for that.
OP it may be worth you seeking advice from ACAS or another advice organisation that specialises in maternity rights.

I'd email the holiday dates you want to request ASAP. Id also submit a formal flexible working request.

I think the actual issue is that 1) the 3 days off will change every week in line with your partners shifts. That makes it’s quite hard to organise.
2) impact on colleagues - if this doesn’t bother you then fair enough.

it’s not playing the system per se and I can see why you want to do it but your manager has said no really.

do you not have to have returned to work for a period of time before going on mat leave again to qualify for OMP? At my place you have to return to work for 26 weeks if you went off and were full time by the 13th week of pregnant to qualify for OMP again. Or something like that

My shifts work in rotation as well. One thing my team leader did ask was if I could still do weekends which I could as my partner gets 2 weekends off a month.

I honestly don't know how it works, I don't know if I will be entitled to maternity pay. I was on SMP during this maternity leave. I guess its not the end of the world if I'm only entitled to SMP again as we managed to make do with it previously.

I think I will just take all the leave together and put in a flexible working request.

Sorry I meant I was only entitled to MA during this current Maternity Leave. I wasn't entitled to SMP.

It’s all very last minute. I used annual leave to take 1 day off and I asked my manager about it a few months ahead of going back. They’re not obliged to say yes to what you’ve decided. 1 day a week is very difficult to 3 days a week though, if they were expecting you back full time in a month. You’ll want to use childcare for when you have your 2nd anyway, to get a break!

Update: After discussing with my husband, I have decided to take all my leave at once and apply for flexible working. Thank you all for your advice :)