contact with work while on mat leave

[weebubbles]

Hi how often have you had contact with your work i.e.managers whilst on maternity leave? Has anyone had no contact what so ever?

 

[kristel_]

I went in once to show everyone the new arrival. After that there was no contact whatsoever, they weren't interested.

 

[davidjoemum]

me too i went once after i had my son and everybody was like "whatever" so i didn't bother anymore only to the point that i had to write them letter saying that im not coming back to work because im pregnant again and im due month after i should be coming back
xxx

 

[Twister]

I've been on mat leave for almost 3 weeks now and havn't heard a peep and i'm not really expecting to either. They did say to keep in touch and keep them updated about the pregnancy but apart from when i've given birth i'm not to sure what else they want updating on I'm hardly going to call them after every appointment. I was going to nip in a couple of times before the baby arrives to see a few people if I needed to go shopping (work in a supermarket) but it's a bit out of my way, there's a store just up the road which is more convenient to get to and tbh I don't want to set foot in there anytime soon, I bloody hated the place and couldn't wait to get out of there!

I can't see them contacting me really, I'll inform them of the birth, and bring the baby in to show everyone if they want me to but that will probably be it really. I'm not going back and I'll probably send my notice to them via post at some point during my leave.

 

[smiler123]

I've been on mat leave since Dec and due back end Oct. The only contact I've had is when I was ordered to take baby in to show her off in April and since then.... Nothing, no contact whatsoever I'm now considering changing jobs if this is the kind of appreciation I get for 6 years loyal service! Grrr.

Are there minimum contact requirements from the employer to employee during mat leave?

 

[HopefulPony]

Employment law is very very strict in regards to women on maternity leave, managers actually aren't supposed to contact you too much as it could be deemed that they are pressuring you into coming back, they're not allowed to ask you when you plan on coming back etc etc it's probably not lack of caring it's probably concern over what contact they can or cannot have without breaking employment law

 

[kristel_]

Employment law is very very strict in regards to women on maternity leave, managers actually aren't supposed to contact you too much as it could be deemed that they are pressuring you into coming back, they're not allowed to ask you when you plan on coming back etc etc it's probably not lack of caring it's probably concern over what contact they can or cannot have without breaking employment law

It's a shame my work didn't think this applied to me. My last 4 months of maternity leave were absolutley trashed because some snotty jealous woman decided it would be a good idea to put a grievance in against me because of something she saw on facebook. I ended up with snotty letters every week for the last 4/5 months. Anyway, long story short i returned to work pregnant and am going to re-take that time that was spoilt with my daughter

 

[MummyPony]

Employment law is very very strict in regards to women on maternity leave, managers actually aren't supposed to contact you too much as it could be deemed that they are pressuring you into coming back, they're not allowed to ask you when you plan on coming back etc etc it's probably not lack of caring it's probably concern over what contact they can or cannot have without breaking employment law

It's a shame my work didn't think this applied to me. My last 4 months of maternity leave were absolutley trashed because some snotty jealous woman decided it would be a good idea to put a grievance in against me because of something she saw on facebook. I ended up with snotty letters every week for the last 4/5 months. Anyway, long story short i returned to work pregnant and am going to re-take that time that was spoilt with my daughter

That's such a shame! I'm sorry they took this approach with you x

 

[babybear11]

No contact here except them asking me to take lo in ... I then wrote to them about changing my hours .. A phone response 28days later .. No letter confirming!

First day back couldn't log into my pc hrs didn't have me back at work or change of hours. Saw their arse with me not my manager and told ME not to do it again! Welcome back lol

 

[teal]

I was on mat leave for 14.5 months (full year combined with annual leave) and had no contact at all. I think if I'd had my current manager it would have been different xx

 

[ZoMo]

My work policy states my line manager should make contact with me as often as I had requested by filling in a form. The problem is, I was never informed of this form therefore the form was not filled in and I have had no contact!

My next issue is I have no idea who my line manager is! Firstly I was permanently kicked off my team on the dept due to pregnancy (fair enough in a temporary way as my job would put my pregnancy at risk and so I could not perform regular duties. However, the boss took a dislike to me challenging him when he told me to do full night shifts whilst pregnant, so he kicked me off permanently) and put in a temporary position on another dept.Here lies the problem. This was a dumping ground for pregnant women and long term sick colleagues. Therefore not a permanent position. My temporary line manager did not ask if I wanted contact (and I did not know about the policy). He then retired when I went on maternity leave. I have not been told what dept I will be returning to after leave and am in a limbo with no line manager, no dept and no contact whatsoever!

Not too much of a problem as I hate my job anyway but since going on maternity leave in January I have heard that I missed out on vacancy updates through lack of any contact. I have been after a particular job for 3 years, done job specific training and tailored all my current practice towards a position coming up which were like gold dust. Since going on mat leave, my friend from work told me during a general catch up and coffee that FOUR of these positions were created and filled (she got one of them) and I knew nothing about it. I would even have returned from maternity leave to secure this dream job. I am so pissed off I wrote a scathing email to HR saying I have been 'disadvantaged and discriminated against' due to maternity leave (wording from the policy that no employee will be disadvantaged or discriminated against due to pregnancy), that I have no line manager and I havent even a clue what my job is now or what dept I work for! This has apparently been swiftly sent to the senior management team but I have heard nothing since so I am still in limbo.

Believe me, if I could earn the same wages elsewhere I would be off!

 

[_dreamer_]

It sounds like I'm quite lucky, as I have had what I consider a good amount of contact. I let them know with photos once my LO was born, then took her in a couple of times which was off my own back but everyone who's had babies has done this previously. I arranged to meet for lunch with anyone that wanted to via a group email. And my team arranged to meet with me for separate lunch on another occasion. They have an annual summer BBQ which I attended with my LO. I have had a couple of emails forwarded to me to include me in peoples leavings do's or to keep me updated on anything important going on. I did one KIT day but my LO is EBF and wouldn't take a bottle so have decided not do any more until she is weaned and I can leave her more easily. My manager also popped over for a meeting at my request last week to discuss me putting in a request to work part time when I return in Feb.

It's been great, as I haven't had to think directly about my workload, but have been able to keep in touch with people and know of changes such as people leaving, promotions, structural changes etc. I guess a fair bit of it has been instigated by myself, but my manager and team are lovely, and have also put in the effort to keep in touch.