Tweet
Hi, really long winded story, but if you have any questions please ask.
I’ve been on maternity since April 2020. I amended my return date to 29 March 2021. HR informed my management of this on 22 January and said they had to contact me to discuss my return. I didn’t hear anything even though they held my contact details. I initiated contact myself (I got email address for manager from a member of my team) and advised of issues I was having - my anxiety being heightened considerably and that it would be difficult for me returning and childcare issues. Have had daughter registered since October; covid regulations are not allowing them to offer full service/capacity as lower ratio of staff to children. I had actually wanted to return in January but stretched out another two months as I didn’t expect my employer to make concessions for 3 months, so I have had no income for 2 months now. My daughter is due to start daycare for one day a week from 28 April; my stepfather (almost 70 and vulnerable) is due his second vaccine in 2-3 weeks and he will be minding her 2 days a week. My husbands employer (who seem to be way more accommodating than my own) have already ensured he will be at home the other days, as my employer has not offered any way to help with my situation. I also stated in my contact to my manager than I was aware that my team, him and majority of building are working from home.
I got a reply 2 days later; said they were looking into procedures regarding my return and I’d be kept updated. I wasn’t. Nor was I asked about the actual issues that I had referenced in my initial contact. I made contact again for an update on Monday and got a call from manager on Tuesday. I reiterated my anxiety and that I was quite frightened about going back to work. My manager told me there is no equipment for me to work from home, therefore I am the only member of my team who would be within the office. I asked numerous questions - who do I report to seeing as my manager wouldn’t be there, where would I sit, what safety measures are in place - all the answers were ‘I don’t know I’ll find out.’ Which to be honest I found ridiculous as it was a mere 6 days before I was due to return and there was no plan for my return. I got quite upset, my manager offered no support to my mental health issues or ask further of the childcare issues.
I contacted my GP who was appalled at the situation; she has put me back on medication and issued a sick line for 2 weeks. She was also surprised (as was a social worker in my GP surgery and LRA) that when I raised my mental health, welfare was not mentioned or recommended. I wrote an email to my manager asking a series of questions and gave a deadline for response. My manager proceeded to call me yday asking if i was going in next week; I said no as my doctor didn’t think I was mentally prepared to ensure the building, being treated different to my team and having no support network.
He called again today asking the same question and again I said no; I expressed my upset that I have went to my employer with issues and asked for help to facilitate my return and they have failed to support or look into any kind of options to aid me.
I got a response to my emailed questions today and honestly it appears that even though they were aware of my return date over 2 months ago, they have done nothing to source equipment for me to make sure I am working in the same way my colleagues are. I am aware that there were additional devices on order for March. I was told that devices were given to people randomly based on their preference to work from home. I have not once been asked my preference, which I assume they really should have done if they had bothered to contact me in January to actually discuss my return.
I am also not happy that my manager keeps making generalised comments of ‘Other people have been on maternity and are back in the office,’ as it is making me feel like I should not have mentioned my mental health issues and that I should be doing fine and dandy enough to enter the building without being afraid. I have also been asked now a few times when he rings ‘If you work from home, what happens with your childcare?’ A question I am 100 percent sure has not been asked to any other staff with children throughout my whole organisation and if he had bothered to contact me 2 months ago or actually discuss my issues raised he would be aware of the problem that I am facing over the next 3 weeks before my childcare is set in stone.
I have been in contact with the union, who feel it may point somewhat toward indirect discrimination through mismanagement.
Unfortunately the management within my building are as useful as a chocolate teapot but it is now affecting my return to work and impacting my mental health even more. I have also been advised today that they won’t look for equipment for me while I am off sick.
I was wondering what other thoughts are on the situation as I feel I am losing my mind. It takes a lot for me to ask for help, and this is the first time I have ever asked for help from my employer and I actually feel a bit let down as I want to return to work, even on a phased basis until I am comfortable.
For clarity, I currently work within the public sector.
I’ve been on maternity since April 2020. I amended my return date to 29 March 2021. HR informed my management of this on 22 January and said they had to contact me to discuss my return. I didn’t hear anything even though they held my contact details. I initiated contact myself (I got email address for manager from a member of my team) and advised of issues I was having - my anxiety being heightened considerably and that it would be difficult for me returning and childcare issues. Have had daughter registered since October; covid regulations are not allowing them to offer full service/capacity as lower ratio of staff to children. I had actually wanted to return in January but stretched out another two months as I didn’t expect my employer to make concessions for 3 months, so I have had no income for 2 months now. My daughter is due to start daycare for one day a week from 28 April; my stepfather (almost 70 and vulnerable) is due his second vaccine in 2-3 weeks and he will be minding her 2 days a week. My husbands employer (who seem to be way more accommodating than my own) have already ensured he will be at home the other days, as my employer has not offered any way to help with my situation. I also stated in my contact to my manager than I was aware that my team, him and majority of building are working from home.
I got a reply 2 days later; said they were looking into procedures regarding my return and I’d be kept updated. I wasn’t. Nor was I asked about the actual issues that I had referenced in my initial contact. I made contact again for an update on Monday and got a call from manager on Tuesday. I reiterated my anxiety and that I was quite frightened about going back to work. My manager told me there is no equipment for me to work from home, therefore I am the only member of my team who would be within the office. I asked numerous questions - who do I report to seeing as my manager wouldn’t be there, where would I sit, what safety measures are in place - all the answers were ‘I don’t know I’ll find out.’ Which to be honest I found ridiculous as it was a mere 6 days before I was due to return and there was no plan for my return. I got quite upset, my manager offered no support to my mental health issues or ask further of the childcare issues.
I contacted my GP who was appalled at the situation; she has put me back on medication and issued a sick line for 2 weeks. She was also surprised (as was a social worker in my GP surgery and LRA) that when I raised my mental health, welfare was not mentioned or recommended. I wrote an email to my manager asking a series of questions and gave a deadline for response. My manager proceeded to call me yday asking if i was going in next week; I said no as my doctor didn’t think I was mentally prepared to ensure the building, being treated different to my team and having no support network.
He called again today asking the same question and again I said no; I expressed my upset that I have went to my employer with issues and asked for help to facilitate my return and they have failed to support or look into any kind of options to aid me.
I got a response to my emailed questions today and honestly it appears that even though they were aware of my return date over 2 months ago, they have done nothing to source equipment for me to make sure I am working in the same way my colleagues are. I am aware that there were additional devices on order for March. I was told that devices were given to people randomly based on their preference to work from home. I have not once been asked my preference, which I assume they really should have done if they had bothered to contact me in January to actually discuss my return.
I am also not happy that my manager keeps making generalised comments of ‘Other people have been on maternity and are back in the office,’ as it is making me feel like I should not have mentioned my mental health issues and that I should be doing fine and dandy enough to enter the building without being afraid. I have also been asked now a few times when he rings ‘If you work from home, what happens with your childcare?’ A question I am 100 percent sure has not been asked to any other staff with children throughout my whole organisation and if he had bothered to contact me 2 months ago or actually discuss my issues raised he would be aware of the problem that I am facing over the next 3 weeks before my childcare is set in stone.
I have been in contact with the union, who feel it may point somewhat toward indirect discrimination through mismanagement.
Unfortunately the management within my building are as useful as a chocolate teapot but it is now affecting my return to work and impacting my mental health even more. I have also been advised today that they won’t look for equipment for me while I am off sick.
I was wondering what other thoughts are on the situation as I feel I am losing my mind. It takes a lot for me to ask for help, and this is the first time I have ever asked for help from my employer and I actually feel a bit let down as I want to return to work, even on a phased basis until I am comfortable.
For clarity, I currently work within the public sector.
Comment