Jules

Well, just been called into a meeting at work, our office is closing down and all staff is being relocated to another office. I have been located to one that is an hours drive away!!!!

I am soooo shocked.

They have said i can start my maternity leave from when this office closes in 8 weeks but means i will have to return to work earlier, which i wanted more time with baby. I just dont think when i am 28 weeks plus i will feel able to do the two hour drive per day!!

Even when i return from maternity leave i dont want to commute all that way, at the moment it takes me five minutes to get to work.

Think i should take the early leave? and look for another job when i need to return after maternity leave? will i have to refund them?

Caroline

You don't have to take early maternity leave. I would ask for a risk assessment to be done. Being 28 weeks pg surely it isn't safe to drive all that distance. I would have though they could maybe cut your hours back a little.

If it ia a risk to you/ baby (surely falling asleep at the wheel is due to long hrs & being pg) they have to accomodate you, & if they can't thenyou go off on full pay until 36 weeks ( then mat leave kicks in). Maybe this is classed under H& S, Helen maybe better to advise.

I would look for another job whilst you are on maternity. Unless you get anything over normal rates of maternity I won't have to pay anything back.. If you get anything over I think it will state in your contract if you have to pay anything back.

Hope you get something sorted soon.

leeanne

That sucks!

How many weeks off do you get for maternity?

I would be disappointed too, but would wait to see how you feel after the eight weeks and when you've done the drive for a week. That may make your decision right there.

Truthfully, I'd rather have more time with the baby after too, but truly, when it comes to the last weeks of pregnancy you get pretty tired.

Jules

I get 39 weeks off, 6 weeks paid at full and 33 weeks at just statutory, so not like i am getting a brilliant package or anything! i think i am just going to take the early leave and look for another job when i have to return. my OH has just gone into business this week so hopefully he will be earning enough by that time in 9 months for me not to have to return!!

God thats thrown a spanner in the works!

elles28

I honestly as someone who has been 28 weeks PG twice before dont think I would be up that drive every day I think if you were used to doing it before being PG it might not be so tiring.......what a shock for you hope you sort it out soon

Shannon

I dont know how it works with having to pay anything back but if I were you and had to go back to work I would work I would see if they would keep you closer due to your condition if not I would work until no longer possible then just quit and find a new job when its time. In most cases you dont get paid for maternity leave anyway

Miss~Gaby

I'm not 100% sure of this but it may be worth looking into but there is something about companies re-locating and being obligued to provide transport or compensation (for a limitied time) to existing staff where a need to travel arises. I'd speak to your union rep if you have one or go to your citizens advice and ask there. I know there IS something, but i cant remember what it is.

tinytoes

if you dont return after maternity leave no you dont need to refund them - as long as you handed in your notice as per your contract (a month in advance? * months?? Check up on this).


I also drive between 40 minutes and an hour each way to work. Not looking forward to this is the summer as I dont have air con.
But you might get used to it - put some music on, have it as "your time"?...time to think about things and to listen to calming music...or even time for you and baby to listen to nursery rhyme CDs?!?

anita665

My friend had someting similar happen. If they're doing this they're clearly struggling so maybe ask them about being made redundant. That way you can still have your maternity pay and you should get a pay off too.

Linzi

Sorry to hear that hun, thats awful.

Do you not have any paid holiday time left that you could take before the baby arrives? like say take 2 weeks off beforehand as holiday and then start your mat leave from then? If that makes sense...

xxx