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laurafmcdermott
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« on: March 26, 2010, 02:11:59 am » |
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Hi all, I haven't been around for several months. I visited from work, and I went on maternity leave back in October (baby boy joining his two older sisters). Then 2 weeks before I was to return, my position was eliminated. So here I am! I have been trying since January to find another position with absolutely no luck. I took advantage of the "outplacement" part of my package and was able to re-vamp my resume, but have had just two phone interviews, with nothing resulting from either. I'm getting very discouraged! Therefore, I am thinking of taking my baking hobby semi-professional for the summer and taking my wares to the local farmers markets. I am in the process of getting my kitchen licensed & inspected by the state, setting up a facebook page, and will have a tasting party for my local friends within the next month. Please wish me luck on this season's adventure and also for more of a corporate opportunity come fall!
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gee4
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« Reply #1 on: March 26, 2010, 09:35:38 am » |
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Can that happen while you are out on maternity leave??? How awful for you Laura but congrats on your new arrival. I'm sure you are being kept busy. Fingers crossed your new venture goes well and great to hear from you again. Best of luck.  |
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Cathy S
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« Reply #2 on: March 26, 2010, 03:18:44 pm » |
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Good luck with your initiatve Laura ... of course if we could have samples we could give you some good business development advice? but then maybe your youngsters already perform this function for you?
Best wishes and let us know how you get on.
Cathy
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msmarieh
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« Reply #3 on: March 26, 2010, 03:41:09 pm » |
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Good luck Laura! Lots of opportunities with that license in hand.
Gee, unfortunately if the position is eliminated (especially with other positions as well), they can. They can't just fire you and replace you with someone else while you are out on maternity leave.
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laurafmcdermott
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« Reply #4 on: March 26, 2010, 05:14:00 pm » |
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Yes Gee and Marie, that is exactly the case with me. The division I worked for had the contract renegotiated and as a result several departments were eliminated. This was especially vexing given I had been working from home for the month prior to my leave and this was to be a permanent move. I have been trying to find another position with this same company, but it seems that it's all "who you know", and since the company is 35K employees, I haven't known the right people for those open slots!
That said, I still have all of the work-at-home company issued equipment, and have had no contact from the company on when they will be picking it up. It's just sitting collecting dust!
Thanks for the luck, wish I could send you all samples! I may ask a favor of any of you on facebook to become a fan of my page when I publish it.
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gee4
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« Reply #5 on: March 26, 2010, 05:29:14 pm » |
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Gee, unfortunately if the position is eliminated (especially with other positions as well), they can. They can't just fire you and replace you with someone else while you are out on maternity leave. In the UK you cannot be made redundant while on maternity leave. |
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peaches2160
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« Reply #6 on: March 26, 2010, 11:31:10 pm » |
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Generally they will hold the position open and tell you when you are released to return that the position no longer exists. Different companies have different ways of handling the situations.
Laura, congratulations on your new arrival and best of luck in your new venture. Let us know when you have the FB page up and I will become a fan. One door closes and another opens. It sounds like you are opening that door and that is great! Do you have a signature item that you are best known for baking?
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Cathy S
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« Reply #7 on: March 27, 2010, 10:08:00 am » |
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In the UK you cannot be made redundant while on maternity leave.
This got me wondering Gee; in fact one can be made redundant whilst on Maternity Leave in the UK ... but not because one is taking Maternity Leave. There are strict requirements for an employer to follow if making someone on Maternity Leave redundant ... they must offer alternative suitable employment if available with them or an associate company ... they must not treat the woman on Maternity Leave at a disadvantage compared to anyone else being made redundant at the same time (ie there must be all the same consultations and alternative options explored) and the woman's right to Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is protected if she hasn't received it for 39 weeks already. I suspect it rarely happens because it is likely to be difficult to prove that the woman has not been treated at a disadvantage and the threat of a Tribunal and a costly settlement to follow are sufficient to make the company look at other alternatives first. |
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msmarieh
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« Reply #8 on: March 27, 2010, 01:13:39 pm » |
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It's somewhat similar here. You definitely can't be made redundant BECAUSE you are pregant or on maternity leave. It is part of a protected class, so there's special considerations and laws that apply.
However, if a company is closing a location, for example, then pregnant or not, you're included with the rest of the employees in the force reduction.
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gee4
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« Reply #9 on: March 29, 2010, 08:32:41 am » |
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Cathy / Marie,
I agree that someone cannot be made redundant BECAUSE of being pregnant and that if a company closes there is very little that can be done. However if a company is still in existance and only a position is made redundant, that person on return from maternity leave, in the first instance should be offered another job elsewhere in the company.
I've experienced redundancy as you know and in one instance my company closed overnight. It was an American company who had set up in NI. I had been off sick and was informed that our bosses had received a phone call telling us that we had been made redundant. We were not even allowed into the building to collect our belongings until eventually a day or so later, it was agreed to let us in to take what was ours. Thankfully we all met and had lunch, exchanged emails etc and my boss was able to provide me with a reference, but a very surreal situation and of course we never got a penny.
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jennika
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« Reply #10 on: March 30, 2010, 08:04:54 am » |
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Laura, my whole department was downsized when I as on maternity leave. HOW many weeks do you get for maternity leave in the UK?  39 weeks??? We get 6, 8 if you have a c-section, on top of that, if you take a week or two off before your due date and don't have "vacation" time. That counts for the 6 to 8 weeks. (Unless things have changed in the past 15 years) |
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Cathy S
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« Reply #11 on: March 30, 2010, 09:06:50 am » |
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Hi Jennika
Statutory Maternity Pay in the UK is for 39 weeks ... but how long a woman takes for Maternity Leave is very flexible and can include unpaid Maternity Leave too and doesn't have to be the full 39 weeks.
We are trying to encourage parents to take more time off and to make it easier for woman to continue breastfeeding after return to work so employers now are required to provide facilities to allow breastfeeding/expressing milk and even a fridge for storage.
Cathy
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gee4
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« Reply #12 on: March 30, 2010, 09:57:24 am » |
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Interesting....
After a company brief last week, we have been informed that vending machines will dispense free tea and coffee as of 19 April, with a view to eliminate fridges.
Isn't it strange how different companies operate?!
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msmarieh
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« Reply #13 on: March 30, 2010, 04:32:36 pm » |
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It really is interesting gee. Here, the coffee/tea would be unrelated to the fridge (except they do store milk in there), but people use the fridge's for holding their lunches that they bring in, so they wouldn't be happy about that.
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gee4
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« Reply #14 on: March 30, 2010, 07:38:18 pm » |
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I think the company are trying to eliminate the rotten lunches forgotten about at the back of the fridge that grow mould.  They are offering milk with the vending machines. Cathy, why would women be allowed to express milk at work anyway? Is there a creche on site? |
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