Teachers - got a pay cut and head is getting stuffy about when I can go back after mat leave

[fisil]

I went into work today. I've been signed off sick for the past 10 weeks with depression. Ante Natal Depression does not officially exist, so it is called depression and treated as non-maternity related. On Sunday my sick leave turns into maternity leave.

I found two documents in my pigeon hole. A memo dated 18th Jan (I started sick leave on 17th) stating that maternity laws have changed and that I can't return to work before 15 weeks and will therefore have to return in September rather than July when I want to.

The second was my annual pay statement. When I was given an R&R point 3 years ago I was told it was permanent. It now says that it will expire on 31st March. I know there have been national changes in pay and conditions, so has everyone lost this money? This effectively means a pay cut of £1000 p.a.

The final thing that bugs me is that half an hour later I discovered that legally I should not have been on school premises because I've been signed off sick. If I had known this 1/2 hour earlier I would never have received these documents until I returned to work in July (or September if the head gets her way).

So my questions: I can return to work anytime after the baby is 2 weeks old, can't I? And has everyone lost the R&R points, or is there something going on here?

[fisil]

Thanks Rowlers & HMB. With ds I fell pg just after Ofsted, and so planned not to go back til he was 8 months. By 3 months I was begging nursery to take him early, but was stuck at home miserable (and with counselling) until he was 8 months. I do love my job, and I am desperate to go back.So in fact it is the opposite - the head is pushing me to start back later, while I want to go back sooner.

I took advice from my excellent friend - my former teacher - and he finished his advise with "leave"!

[Rowlers]

Fisil, if it's any help, when I returned to work after maternity leave (I'm Head of MFL), I went back full time, because that is what I had said I would do and I didn't want to let the school down by changing my mind at the last minute. I did everything by the book and was true to my word so as to minimise problems for the school.
In the last few weeks before returning to work, I had major doubts and got very anxious about going back full time. Byt I did nothing and am now, 7 weeks after returning to the post wondering why I didn't just do what was right for me.
The head has spoken to me maybe twice, the first time all she said was "hello". No welcome back, no how can we help you out, nothing, nada. The deputy was the same. At a managers' meeting, I thought someone may say something. Again, nothing at all. Now either I am absolutely crap at my job (which I have to admit all that did make me wonder - it's amazing how other people can really knock your confidence) or they are all a bunch of self-obsessed turds.
The reality is, it's a job, it's not what you get up in the morning for.
You are only here once, do what makes you happy and what is right for you. Stuff the head, she'd be ruthless - that's probably why she's got her job.
Just to clarify, my earlier comment re: it being a bit cheeky was not my personal belief, rather from experience that of others I have worked with. The point I was trying to make and probably didn't make itr clearly enough was that yes, some may think like that but that's irrelevant in the grand sheme of things.
Sorry - I've written loads - was probably using it as a bit of a cathartic exercise!! I think I may also have strayed from the point a little!

[happymerryberries]

Fisil, just read this. Agree with everyone else see your Union rep pronto.

And don't be guilted back into work too soon, just because you feel better for the moment. If you go back too soon you could make your recovery longer and no-one will thank you for flogging yourself to a stand still. You owe it to yourself and the babe

[alux]

I agree with what others say about returning to work. The NASUWT puts out a very good booklet about your maternity rights. Get a copy. It will be helpful to refer back to it over the coming few weeks.

[mummytosteven]

agree with Mud - if that's when you intend to go back, then that's when you intend to go back. Without AND many mums I am sure have slightly delayed their return to work for whatever reasons. Don't feel guilty because it is a mental health issue - if it was a broken leg I bet you wouldn't be asking yourself this.

In terms of feeling worse after the birth - as I understand it, the risk of AND turning into PND is more if the AND goes untreated, whereas yours is being treated (and sounds like the treatments working given you feel a lot better atm). IIRC you are on meds/had counselling - and presumably will continue on ADs after the birth, so I wouldn't have thought you were likely to relapse.

If anything the birth and having DS to look after helped, rather than hindered my recovery from OCD/Depression - I would say I wsa 50% recovered by the time of the birth, mostly recovered with 4 months of the birth.

[fisil]

That does help Mud, thanks.

[Mud]

No that doesn't change your approach at all

Your intention is to return to work on that date, that is all she needs to know

I sympathise, ante-natal depression is very real and very very hormonal, although I know it doesn't feel so - if it helps I too suffered from it in one of pregnancies, though not as severely as you, and it did ease towards the end of pregnancy (around week 36 for me) and did not re-manifest as post-natal depression

[fisil]

Thanks for all your help. I have contacted my old teacher who is a deputy head for some impartial advice, and I will also speak to my social worker (couldn't really work out why I had one, so maybe this is my opportunity!). I will try my regional rep (NASUWT) - in my old borough he was very good, but when I contacted NASUWT last maternity leave they were useless. I want to get my facts straight before I talk to the head as she is a slippery customer - but I fully agree with putting everything in writing. I've had one meeting with her while on sick leave that I haven't put in writing, so I will do so now.

I am, of course, keen to get the 100% pay for the holiday - nursery fees will be £3000 per month in September, so I can't afford to lose the £4000 over the summer. But strangely 18th July is not the last day of term. There are 9 working days after that, and I need those days. I am Head of Maths, and if I turn up on 1st September having done no development planning, no organisation etc., then my return to work will be highly stressful - not what you need if you've been off with depression. Whereas if I go back for two weeks at the end of term I can get all of that organised - and if they're paying me in August I will also go in then (I usually work a solid 2 or 3 weeks in the summer hols, but I won't if they're not paying me). Therefore I stand a much better chance of performing to my full potential in September. I have told her this argument, to which she said she could start me two weeks before the end of the hols - but then how would I know what my development priorities are if I haven't interacted with my colleagues for 8 months?

One last question - I have been off with depression for 10 weeks. The past week I have felt myself again, 100% better. I could easily have gone back to work, but as I'm heavily pg, and the head wanted me out all half term, I didn't. I think the depression is pg related, and that following the birth I will be fine. However, my doctor has been keen to stress that it may not turn out like that - the birth and caring for a new baby may knock me back, in which case I won't be ready for 2 weeks of work in July (the baby will only be 2 1/2 months old). So I really am trying to keep the 18th July option open, rather than setting it as a definite date. It would be the best date for me - so long as my health remains as it is now. So does that change my approach to the head?

[alux]

Anyone who sees it cheeky is a hypocrite because they would do the same thing Plus, school budget is a business thing and so is my household budget. So I make heartless business decisions within the law. Just as the LEA and my HT will make heartless business decisions based on the law.

I spoke to someone in personnel at my LEA who confirmed that I could return to work on the 18th of July to return to full pay for the summer hols. Fisil, phone yours and see what they tell you.

[Rowlers]

Sorry - baby's bath time and then general lounging got the better of me.
Sounds fisil from the letter as if they are within their rights to withdraw the R+R money if the central "pot" is no longer funding it. But that's just my gut feeling.
Def contact union if only for accurate info / advice and make an appointment to see / speak to the head.
Being honest (please don't shoot me down in flames!), staff at my school do see it as a little bit cheeky to have one's return to work date as the last day before summer hols but hey, that's life and you are within you're rights to do that. Your head may feel peeved about it but I doubt she is actually acting legally if she insists on September return.
Good luck - I hate confrontations!

[pixiefish]

I'm also sure that they're wrong on the mat leave thing- you can go back when you want. Phone your union. Regarding the R+R- check that out with the union as well. I know this year that the unions have agreed to management points being reviewed annually but that was for points awarded after the agreement (which was sometime this year) Don't know with recruitment points though- depends what it was in the contract- I know our head gives them on an annual basis and reviews them depending on shortages etc

[Hulababy]

fisil - you really ought to contact your unuion on this one. Unless you have a really good rep at school I would by pass them, and write/e-mai/phone the regional union rep. My experience (with the NASUWT anyway) was very good, and they got back to me very quickly.

This does sound like it is discrimination to me, and I am sure they are wrong about the end of mat leave thing.

[uwila]

Sorry sorry sorry... 2 weeks, not 3 weeks.

[uwila]

Sorry sorry sorry... 2 weeks, not 3 weeks.

[uwila]

I'm not a teacher, but you are surely being jacked around, Fisil. I would send another lette confirming my return to work date at 18 July. And, let her respond otherwise in writing. That way you have it in writing that SHE (not you) is disputing the return to work date.

ANd, yes, the only law I know of is that you can not go back for 3 weeks following the birth. I don't know much about a union (as I have never belonged to one), but you might wat to check out the Tiger website (if you haven't already).

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

Can't do the link re R&R points on the TES website. It's in the staffroom section under the pay & employment bit.

[alux]

or write a memo to her stating 'with regard to our conversation on xx/xx please confirm that ....' Build your paper trail otherwise it becomes he said she said.

[alux]

I never heard anything about must take at least 15 wks mat leave and don't know anything about R&R points

Regarding not being able to return to work in
July sounds completely false. I am planning to return to work on July 18th as well. I need to see my GP to provide a 'fit to return to work' letter. Sounds more like your head is trying to scam you out of paying you 100% over the summer break.

I would try to see if she is willing to put this in writing and if she does, take the memo to your union - and if she doesn't contact your union anyway.

[fisil]

Rowlers, from a letter dated 30 Nov 2001:

"The Headteacher has confirmed that you have been awarded a Recruitment and Retention point from the Recruitment and Retention Standards Fund. This point will be maintained subject to the fund being continued or until you leave this school."

Does that count?

[mummytosteven]

www.tes.co.uk/section/staffroom/thread.aspx?story_id=2066532&path=/pay+and+employment/&threadPage=6

something on the TES website to do with R & R points

[Rowlers]

Did you get a contract update when they gave you the R+R point? If so, look at that - does it not say if it was permanent or not?
Never heard of the 15 week thing - are they maybe trying it on?

[Twiglett]

sounds like discrimination to me

I would call your union and ask their advice

[fisil]

Thanks for all your replies.

I'm looking at the TES website but can't find anything. Any ideas, Puff?

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

There's some stuff on the TES website about R&R points being abolished. I'm not teaching at the mo, so not up on all this.

[cazzybabs]

Can you speak to someone in the LEA or your chair of govenors? She has to refer you to occuptiona health.