in April 2024 Babies 🇬🇧

Returning to work drama. Any advice ?

So, I work for a government department (public service), I'm not sure if this information is relevant but I thought it may help me get some help through the right channels. At least a month before or more, while on maternity leave, I agreed with my manager that I would be returning on a part time basis 2 days a week, which she said yes that would be perfectly fine. I sent a formal email as well and this was agreed by her. On my first day back in the morning she confirmed with me that all the changes to part-time have been made on the system. However, in the afternoon, almost at the end of my work day she called me to tell me that she didn't know but the minimum part-time requirement was 3 days a week and that I should think of adding an extra day. I was fuming! It took a while to come up with the current childcare arrangements we have, so for her to tell me to just add an extra day is so upsetting. Unfortunately there is no way I can add an extra day to the week as other people and their schedules are involved too. I sent an email to her boss explaining the situation and haven't received a reply. I'm still working 2 days a week as planned. I told her I haven't got an answer for her and I'm still waiting for her manager to get back to me. This is actually very upsetting considering how long ago this was all planned and I have emails as evidence. Quitting is not an option as well. What would you do ? I'm just very upset and I find it not fair considering that it is not my fault either ... If I'd known before, I'd make the appropriate arrangements. Any advice ? TIA

Show your support

Hiya, civil servant here also 👋🏽 I would take it up with HR and then get some advice from your union rep (if you’re in one). There’s also an advice line from ‘Pregnant Then Screwed’ which maybe helpful (not used it myself but I do follow them on Insta) as they know a lot about employment law and rights.

Thank you so much, I'll have a look with HR first and see where I can go from there ! ☺️

Have you signed a contract? If not then they might get away with it although it’s not acceptable, your manager should have asked for advice first. I am a first time mum who works full time and it’s only now I’ve realised how hard it is to raise a child and work … may I be forgiven but I used to think I could never be a stay at home mum with “no job and ambition” and now I realise it’s not the case at all! The system screws us, there’s often no choice and also how I’d love to be at home with my beautiful baby all the time, time is precious x

@Jen could have wrote that myself. Used to be rather ambitious and never imagined I wouldn’t want to work or look for my next career progression. Alas!

Am also with Holly on this one. Speak to HR. Sometimes they do make concessions. You could also try to agree to move to 3 days after x time?