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Original poster

Boss asking 'what are you plans when you finish mat leave?'...

18 replies

Cosmogirl · 15/12/2008 10:50

Hi,

I'm due to have my first baby end of March, so going on mat leave end Feb. Boss has asked a couple of times what my plans are re: returning to work. I am taking 9 months and am not sure what I will want to do at the end; return full-time, part-time, or not at all. I've never had a baby so goodness knows how I will feel, cope and manage financially etc.. Are they meant to ask you questions re: what your plans are? Feel like saying 'how do I know? Let me give birth and get used to being a mum first!'

TIA for any insights.

OP posts:

SheherazadetheGoat · 15/12/2008 10:51

i think it is reasonable to ask. your boss does have to plan your cover etc.

edam · 15/12/2008 10:52

You don't have to tell them anything until shortly before you return - look up the facts on the Equalities Commission website or try ACAS. He's clearly ignorant of his legal responsibilities - shouldn't be asking you at all.

Even if this were allowed, there's no point in it as you don't even have a baby yet so have no way of knowing how you'll feel later on.

EachPeachPearMum · 15/12/2008 10:53

They need to know so they know how much mat pay to give you- just tell them the most likely scenario, and beware, you may have to repay some mat pay if you say you're going back FT but go back PT.

2pt4WiseMen · 15/12/2008 10:54

You are entitled to decide later of course, but theres no harm in your boss asking you in case you already have a firm idea of what you plan to do.
Just be honest. Say you have no idea at this point what your plans will be as you need to get used to being Mum first. Tell your boss that you are planning on taking the full 9 months maternity leave and that anything apart from that will be decided later. You'll let him/her know within the correct timescales as soon as you decide.

Original poster

Cosmogirl · 15/12/2008 10:55

EPPM - will only get the SMP because haven't been there two years, and that is when you qualify for enhanced MP.

Edam - that is what I thought the case was too...

OP posts:

edam · 15/12/2008 11:02

they don't need to know in order to work out maternity pay - that's rubbish.

SheherazadetheGoat · 15/12/2008 11:04

at the risk of coming over all zenia - i think it is reasonable to expect women to spend some time thinking about what they may do and let folk know. you don't have to commit until after the birth.

edam · 15/12/2008 11:05

And 2point4 is right, just tell him you don't know! The company will plan for six months OML and potentially six months AML just like every other company does, and adjust those plans if things change. You actually need to give notice if you plan to return early, not the other way round! (But only eight weeks beforehand, really no point at all having any discussion now unless you have definite plans.)

Flibbertyjibbet · 15/12/2008 11:14

I would just tell him that of course you are planning to go back full time.
That way your whole job exactly as it is, will be kept on for you.
If you then decide otherwise you can take it from there.
Its not lying, its called keeping your options open. You just never know what is round the corner.

JulesJules · 15/12/2008 11:15

Getting maternity pay is not contingent on returning to work!

You tell your boss that you will be taking the full leave and your anticipated date of return therefore is xxx. If you decide not to return to work you have to give the correct notice , eg 4 weeks, before that date.

If you decide after you have had the baby that you want to return on different hours, then you can contact your work to discuss it during your leave when you have more idea what you want to do.

wilkosroastingonanopenfire · 15/12/2008 11:17

agree with flibberty, altho i would be very tempted to tell him its none of his bloody business.

jeez you havent even had the baby yet!

hope all goes well btw (smile)

flowerytaleofNewYork · 15/12/2008 11:24

They should assume you are taking the full year unless and until you give 8 weeks notice otherwise.

Having said that, there's nothing wrong with him asking. You are just under no obligation to say anything, and shouldn't anyway, as people often change their minds.

Just politely say that at present he should work on the assumption you will be taking your full year leave, and you will let him know if you decide to do otherwise.

RibenaBerry · 15/12/2008 11:30

What Flowery said .

I actually don't think that there is anything wrong with him asking. He cannot force you to answer, but some people have very strong ideas from early on and, as long as you trust your employer, there is nothing wrong with sharing that. For example, someone I knew who went off about easter was pretty clear she would come back after Christmas, she made it clear that she wasn't limiting her rights, but that made it easier for the department to think about maternity cover.

If you don't know what you want to do, or don't want to share, just say so. That's your right.

ByThePowerOfBaileys · 15/12/2008 11:35

the thing is if you KNEW you weren't returning it would only be fair to tell them so that the person they recruit for your maternity cover could be a temp/perm recruitment.

Don't say anything you aren't comfortable with though.

edam · 15/12/2008 12:05

I recruited cover for maternity leave only my stupid HR department screwed up and only contracted her for six months. Despite me TELLING them the employee in question had said she'd take the full year. Had to recruit someone else for the other six months. HR were all 'oh, that's our standard procedure'. Grrr!

Original poster

Cosmogirl · 15/12/2008 12:48

Thanks for all your comments, ladies. Much appreciated. I think I will keep quiet then and leave it that I plan to return after 9 months. Then, if I want to put in a flexible request I can do this 14 weeks before I am due back or whenever it is meant to be, so that I will have had the baby and time to decide what I want to do.

OP posts:

EachPeachPearMum · 15/12/2008 13:25

Occupational mat pay is contingent on returning to work for at least 13 weeks in many schemes, mine included. If I do not return from mat leave, or change my hours on return, I have to repay part or all OMP.
I made my comment before cosmo said she was only getting SMP.

woodstock3 · 17/12/2008 13:20

my boss asked me the minute i said i was pregnant and regularly after that. like flowery said you dont have to tell him but rather than just refusing point blank to say anything it can create a better atmosphere if you say something general and vague but reassuring sounding. i said i planned to take nine months (which is what i did) and when he asked if i was coming back ft to the same job (which i didnt know then if i would) i just smiled and said you know me, im not the type to sit around having coffee mornings (and yes before i am flamed by SAHMs I know this isnt what they do but it's what my boss would think they do, and it reassured him without being in any way specific)

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