Hello

I would really appreciate some objective opnions on a real dilemma I am facing.

I had my first baby on February 6th 2012. When I got pregnant I was working as a permenant employee for an internet company but it was very pressured and became a lot worse whilst I was pregnant and I took the decision after 12 weeks of being pregnant to leave and take up a temporary job with my former employer as I only left them as was made redundant as part of a mass redundancy program.

I was hoping the temporary job would become permenant but when it was time for me to go on maternity leave I was still a temp and had to be classed as leaving but I was told I was welcome back after my maternity leave if they were recruiting. I found out in January that the company is now relocating to another part of the country this summer which has made it impossible for me to go back now. So I have been panicking and looking for another job. I attened an interview and have been offered a job full-time to start this monday but my big dilemma is that it is to cover someone elses maternity leave so there is no guarantee of a permenant job again and my little boy is only 10 weeks old. I have childcare as both me and my husbands mums are retired.

I just don't know whether to risk it and start Monday or whther to tell them I no longer want the job and to look for a job a bit later in the year and hope I get one. My maternity pay will run out mid september and I do have savings that would cover my share of the household bills for up to 12 months which I don't really want to use but will if I have to. My husband does not earn enough to cover everthing.

It's all a bit of a mess! please help

Lou x

If you can afford to then i would wait until you have finished your maternity. Im on my maternity at the moment which finishes begining of Jan and both me and my partner cant really afford to not work. But we have decided that only one of us will be working as we dont think its fair for my mum to look after the youngest all day and then also the eldest when he comes home from school. And i have no transport so i cant get them to any childcare, so we shall be claiming for any benefits we are entitled to to keep us going. I know some people would just say why have kids then but i have always wanted a family (i know im only 24 and only have 2 kids at the moment) but they are my world and i love having them around to make life more fun and exciting. But hun its really up to you what you think you can and cant afford to do

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I think you should wait. Your body wont be up to working full time again so soon after having your baby. Plus it is nice to spend those first few months bonding with the baby.
Also, may be worth checking if you went back what would happen with your mat pay - there may be some legalities about receiving a wage and having to pay back mat pay etc?!
I took 10 months off with my first, but with holidays it worked out at 11 months
This time round I took the year off, and with holidays it is working out to be 14 months I will have been off before returning to work. I have been in for keeping in touch days, and done a few days supply cos my HT been so short of teachers with illness lately (but those supply days means she owes me days rather than pay so suits me )
I would maybe start looking for a job about August, and see what comes about then. Which company did you work for - my hubby works for Cisco. KNow in that industry, when they laid off most of the cisco employees up here they all found work even before they had finished their garden leave, so hopefully you will find something quickly
Good luck with the decision
xxx

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Yeah defintly check about your maternity pay i found out from a neighbour that i would have to go back for at least 2 weeks if i decide to stop work so that i can keep my maternity pay, if i just didnt go back then they can take all of my maternity pay back. If you have a contract check what that says or if your not sure then maybe got to c.a.b and see if they can give you some more advice about that.

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Thanks for the replies. After an agonising weekend considering what to do I made the decision today to not commence my employment and have sent an apologetic email to the agency who have handled my job application to inform them of my decision. They will probably not be happy at all about being messed around but I would rather inform them now than start work and then inevitably leave.

I will look for work again from August. I just hope I get lucky again and am offered an interview and a job as easily as this time.

Thanks again.

Glad to hear you have made a decision. I wouldnt worry yourself too much at the moment about finding a job until nearer the time hun, for now just focus on spending lots of time with your family and little one and having fun as they grown up soo quick!

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Glad to hear you have made a decision.

Enjoy your maternity leave with your little one, I loved mine!

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