Going back to work but need some help with new contract!!

[emzul]

Hi Ladies :wave:

I could do with some help regarding amendments to my contract of work, basically I started Mat Leave last month and work need me to return already! I know they cant make me go back and I am fully entitled to stay on Mat Leave, but I went in for a chat and the following was offered:

- Work will continue to pay me the £500 odd each month "Mat Pay" but obviously they cant call it that, because I will be working, so they will call it my basic wage or something similar so its all legal

- I will be paid an hourly wage and have been asked to work 15 hours a week, any time I like as long as I complete 15 hours work in the week (so can work weekend or evenings if I want)

- I am allowed to work from home (yay)

So after tax and NI it works out I will be getting about an additional £375 a month to what I am getting just on Mat Pay alone, I dont need to put Charlie into daycare and I can pretty much do the work as and when, the only thing I am slightly concerned about is if they decide a month down the line that they dont need/want me to work from home anymore, and say I have to go back or that they have someone else to do my job etc I wont be able to claim Mat Pay again.... and I will be entitled to ZERO

I was wondering if someone could help me with a letter of some kind that thr MD and my boss would sign to make it all legit... I have said I would have to have it all in writing so I just need something that if they were to say they dont need me, they still have to pay me the £500 per month until next June, when my Mat Pay would have stopped.....

Thanks very much for anyone who can help in any way poss, the extra money would be really good, and the terms are great, but I just dont want to get screwed over and not have a leg to stand on!

xx

 

[wishingonastar]

Will come back to this when my girls are in bed and if no one else has helped I'll try

 

[emzul]

Oh thanks so much!! I really could do with the extra money each month, as I want to start driving lessons again and also put some money away in a little account for Charlie each month, but I cant risk losing my Mat Pay if they decide they dont want me working from home anymore... I really dont want to put him into daycare while he is still so young

Thanks so much xxx

 

[wishingonastar]

ok not really got time to type out an actual letter, but in one i'd suggest making sure following points are covered. TBH I'd either do it as a dated letter, but that both parties sign and date, or a covering letter with an accompanying written agreement (again which both parties sign and date).

1. outline exactly what they have offered you (hours ie how many per week and can be taken of your choosing outside of normal office hours, place of work, money, how long this is applicable ie duration of what would have been mat leave)
2. time period - ensure you stipulate that your company guarantees you will either be employed under the above specialist arrangement for XXXXXX period or should they find it is no longer necessary for you to provide the cover before XXXXXX period is up then they commit to providing you with the sum you would have received for the remaining period under statutory maternity pay, along with the statutory arrangements for an employee on maternity leave such as the right to accumulate annual leave.

i would emphasise to you i'm not in HR or anything, this is just my take on what would be wise...what I'd recommend you to as a priority is run your situation by ACAS (they have a website with contact info) as they are employment specialists who help both employers and 'the little people' to ensure everyone gets a fair deal

 

[emzul]

Aww thanks very much! Yeah I spoke to ACAS when they first told me they wanted me to go back, and they basically said they cant MAKE me go back, which I know, but I never thought it would be feasable to work from home. But obviously now they have said that I can, I just want to make sure my back is covered so that they cant mess me about!

Thanks very much for your help, its very much appreciated! xxx

 

[wishingonastar]

No worries...surprised acas weren't more helpful!

You've done well with what they've offered...I'd love a deal like that!

 

[xxembobxx]

You are allowed 10 KIT days which you can get paid for in addition to maternity pay so if you're doing 15 hours a week you could use your KIT days for the first 5 weeks without the extra pay stopping your maternity pay.
Might be a way to try it out without risking anything.

 

[emzul]

Thanks for the advice, I have decided NOT to do it after all..... I realised that for one I dont want to LOL I hated my job when I was there, and have no intention of going back once my Mat Leave finishes, and also I know I will end up getting stressed with it because I got mithered to death at work, so it will probably be the same if I am at home!

Also, in a couple of months Charlie is going to be more alert and need more attention, he wont sleep as much in the day so he will require more of my attention! Plus, I dont see much of my husband as it is (he leaves at 8am and doesnt get home til 8 most nights!) so weekends and an hour in the evening is all we have together and if I cant get my work done in the day, I dont want to be doing it evenings and weekends, eating into our "family time"

Thanks for your help, sorry I wasted your time!! xxx