Phased Return after Maternity Leave

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Hi,

Just wondering if anyone has returned to work on phased return after being on maternity leave and how it works?

My maternity leave ended in Jan but following a conversation with my manager, it was agreed I took my accrued annual leave in a block and returned to work at a later date on phased return which will be next week.

However, following a call with my manager today, he told me I would be coming back full time and not on phased return. I also haven't been scheduled in for shifts yet so I don't even know what shifts I'll be on which makes it even more difficult with childcare.

I am also 4 months pregnant suffering with severe nausea and fatigue as well as PGP so phased return would've been ideal to help me ease back into work after 14 months off.

Any advice would be appreciated :)

I don’t think a phased return is normal? But people do spread their annual leave out and go back part time with annual leave making up the rest.

A phased return from mat leave? I’ve never heard of that, is it the norm at your place?

Phased returns in my firm have only ever been with people using their accrued annual level as holiday for a few days a week for the first few months.

They discussed this where I work only a few weeks ago. If you have beenoff I'll for a long time you get a phased return, why not after a baby.

I used my accrued Annual leave to take 2 days off a week for a couple of months and I’ve known many people do that so you can phase yourself in and get used to being back. But never known anyone use their accrued leave in a block and then ask for a phased return. It’s an either or, not both so I expect your manager didn’t realise you would have already used all your leave when he agreed to you phasing back in

Is this for people off long term sick they were talking about? That’s totally normal as often people are still in recovery phase from a serious illness if they’ve off a long time. Different scenario to mat leave

Do you mean you were going to be on PT hours for PT pay for a while, or that you thought there’d be some arrangement where you’d do reduced hours on full pay?

Have you made a flexible working request? Do they know you are pregnant again, and is your job one that requires a H&S assessment for pregnant staff?

I think this should be a thing! I know it’s not the same as illness or bereavement but it IS a massive adjustment going back.

I went straight back into full time (compressed) hours and plan to use annual leave to stagger it next time.

Any reduced working should be paid at the reduced rate, which will impact your next maternity pay.

Most women use their accrued leave to phase back - you don’t get the penny and the bun.

I kinda did a phased return both times I think? I went down to four days (as in reduced hours not annual leave) for a few months. I was however going back before my kids were 6mo both times as my husband was doing SHPL. However, I had agreed that with HR at about the 25 week mark of my pregnancy. I had requested it through a flexible working request as a temporary measure and as I pointed out, I didn’t technically have to be back at work at all so any days they were getting out of me could be considered a bonus.

I suspect that you have been off for a full
52 weeks? It’s very late to request phased return would you be asking for full pay?

Yes, at first I requested I go back on a phased return using annual leave to work 3 or 4 days a week or just reduced hours but my manager said they won't be able to accommodate that. He said its better for me to use annual leave as a block and come back on phased return, so PT hours PT pay and slowly build back upto full time over the course of 4 weeks.

What reason was given for no longer being able to accommodate what you originally agreed?

I requested this but my manager said they won't be able to accommodate. He said I could come back on phased return after I've used the acrrued leave, working part time on part time pay and easing myself into full time hours over the course of 4 weeks.

No reason was given, he just dropped it on me as we were wrapping up the call. I had to clarify that it wasn't phased return and I'll be back to full time hours.

He was the one that suggested it as I asked to use annual leave to work 3/4 days a week but he said they won't be able to accommodate.

I had to ask him ask him how phased return works because I didn't know how it works and he said I'd be back on PT hours PT pay slowly easing myself into full time hours over the course of 4 weeks.

Thinking back to the conversation now if they couldn't accommodate me using annual leave, I should have asked how they'd be able to put me on phased return working PT hours.

No they were saying that a phased return would be brought in for mother's coming back off maternity leave.

Yes! That doesn’t make sense when you think about it.
Sounds like your manager hasn’t a clue what he’s on about!

It entirely depends on your policy. Do you have that to hand? My company gives this as a benefit, so you’re scheduled for half time (whatever you choose, half days or full days but half the week) and then subsidises the pay. But that’s unique, it’s not statutory.

I know people who've done a sort of phased return but always by using accrued annual leave, some just take it in a block and then dive back in

I came back to work after 13 months maternity leave.. the last month was using my accrued holiday from the year off.. I came back for the first 3 months on 3 days a week and my 4th month onwards (until now) increased to 4 days a week.. 4 days being my usual pre-maternity number of working days a week. All my choice and input and was discussed and agreed with my manager (who is also the owner and director of the small company, there isn't a HR department) the timeline 2 months ahead of my planned return date. Very grateful and lucky it worked out and they could accommodate my request in the business. Did this so my child could also then have a phased in setting time to nursery, when I worked 3 days, they were in nursery 2 days, when I increased to 4 days, they moved to 3 days in nursery. They spend 1 day with my mum a week, and 1 day with me looking after them a week (previously I looked after them 2 days a week in those first 3 months).