work and maternity leave

[bednobs]

hi, am currently on mat leave from my NHS job.. The NHS is going thru a huge reorganisation, and my job will probably be made redundant before i am due to go back. All staff are taking part in one-to-ones with their managers in order to discuss employees "feelings" around transitionand for managers to impart info about the transition. I have politely declined my 1-2-1 with my manager as i will have to take baby with me (she has emailed me today to say it has to be done int he next week or so). However, she says i don't have the choice to decline. Can my work make me go in while i'm on mat leave?

[factor-fiction]

In my experience a good employer will be prepared to come out to you if you ask, but I'm not sure of the legal position if they insist on you coming in

[Smowball]

Is there nobody at all to have the baby while you go in?

[B00]

Can't you take the baby with you?

[bednobs]

well in all honesty i was looking for a reason not to go. I probably could do either of those two things, the point being i don't want to :)

[ubasses]

You really must go for your own sake, if you want to be made redundant this is your opportunity to tell them this and find out what your chances are. If not you need to tell them what job you want to do and why you are suitable for it. If you do not meet, the decisions they make without your input could be the last thing you would have chosen.
If it makes it easier ask them to come out to you, but I think the formal setting would be better if you can get there.

[lcg]

yes. this happened at my place of work last year. every employee has to go as they are reorganising services. if you don't, then you may well lose your job as it will be seen as you not engaging in the process. even people on maternity and long term sick were expected to attend. those who didn't lost their jobs in the reshuffle.

[Madruby]

Hi Bedknobs
Call the HR dept and request a copy of both your maternity policy and redundancy policy ( they may be called something different as it varies from trust to trust) As you are on mat leave you do have some rights that are ' protected'

Good Luck!

[bednobs]

Thank you for all your help. I listened very carefully to what you were all saying and asked my manager if she could come here to do it, and she's going to

[Bstard]

No take your child with you whats the problem.. if they have a problem with this when you get there, then you have turned up for your meeting..

[bednobs]

the problem bstard is that because i am disabled i have everything set up at home for feeding and changing her. I don't want to do it when i'm out because it's v difficult,
did you read my last response out of interest?

[craft1948]

I looked after a colleague's baby in the office when she had to come in for her 1-2-1. I was happy to do so and by coming in she displayed her commitment to her job.

[bednobs]

well again there lieth the problem ... i have practically zero interest/commitment in my job for the last 2 years :)

[craft1948]

So you'd be happy to take redundancy then?

[bednobs]

i would bite their arm off. I used to be very career focussed, but when heather died, i just found i couldn't summon up any enthusiasm at all for work, it just seemed so bloody pointless. then i was immediately pg again with william, so was just marking time before my life as a mum would start. then after he died, i was pregnant again fairly soon and again just marking time in order to get through the days. i've actually had 3 lots of mat leave in the last 2 years, and have only been back for a few months in between, so i'm hardly an ideal employee! i think it would suit the both of us to part ways really

[craft1948]

I hope you get it then bednobs x

[bednobs]

me too. the problem being, they can offer VR in a time of transition. I have to go through the whole process of being pooled or slotted into a job, applying and interviewing ofr any job that meets 51%+ of my JD. If after that process you still have no job, you can get redundancy. But here's the kicker, you HAVE to try, or you'll have deemed to have made yourself jobless = no payment. I have been toying with the idea of getting an "eff off" tattoo on my face , just so i don't get any f the interviews :)