Securing a new job within the same organisation and mat leave

[BlameItOnTheBogey]

Sorry - no idea how to title this. I'm planning on having another baby sometime next year. I work for a big organisation where there is a lot of movement between jobs. My current position comes to an end next summer and I will shortly be applying for a new position to start after that (I have a permanent contract but the exact job changes, if that makes sense?)

What would happen if I was on mat leave when my new job was due to start? Would it be covered by the rule that you can come back to your job if only off for 26 weeks? Or could they force me to reapply for a different job?

I know I need to ask HR about this but I'm on mat leave at the moment and really don't want them to know I plan on having another baby so soon.

Can anyone help (if any of this makes sense)...?
Thanks

Bumping for you.

I know what you mean because our place is a bit similar, but I think to get a real definite answer you would need to talk to HR. Certainly they would have to give you A job back and it would need to be equivalent to what you are doing now in pay etc (even if you took longer than 26 weeks), but I think whether they would have to give you the exact same role back after less than 26 weeks is a bit of a grey area. They could possibly argue that they are giving you the same "job" back even if it meant changing position, because of the fact it's normal to change position in your job IYSWIM? However you should be guaranteed to GET a position even if not the same one. I think how the company plays it might also depend on the role you were in - whether it is one where they would need to specifically replace you when you left (where you are the only person doing it for example, and they would then have to remove whoever took over when you return), or whether it's something where they can juggle things to do without you for a few months and then slot you back in easily. It might also depend what you want... it sounds as though you would rather have a position "kept" for you than have a fresh start when you return?

It was different for me when I went on maternity as I didn't WANT my old position to be kept for me, I was due for a change anyway so was happy to just train up someone else to take over and then start something new when I got back. Though the "starting something new" bit is going pretty slowly so far, but that's another story

Thanks for the bump and also the reply from Inigo. I suspected the only real answer was 'talk to hr'. Bugger. The complicating factor is that our jobs are located all over the country and so I really need to know where I will be located when I return from mat leave so that dh can get work in the same place.

Ho hum.

Glad to hear it worked out ok for you Inigo.