Finally sorted out
Some may know, and other may not know, that going back to work after having Morgan was not as straight forward as it should have been. Foolishly it seems, I expected to go back to work with the minimum of problems. I was going back full time to the same job I thought and also thought that as I worked for one of the biggest local employers I would be well looked after. After all they publicise their family friendly policies. Don’t get me started on flexible working!
This was not the case and I have my pay reduced significantly and had to fight to be back doing the same job. I had to get the Union involved (my local Unison rep was an excellent help and offered lots of support) and threaten to go to a tribunal before I got anywhere. It was then agreed that I could have my job back but I’ve had to go through a lengthy regrading process in order to get halfway close to the salary I was earning before I had Morgan.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, I have had confirmation this morning that my regrading was successful and my pay will be fully backdated to the date I returned to work. Brilliant news but I can’t help wondering why I had to go through it all when all I did was have a baby and go back to work.
I certainly wouldn’t be without Morgan now but it is really hard going back to work full time and looking after a baby (and it’s not getting any easier as he gets older and can run around and say NO!) Surly employers should realise this and look after their staff, making their return to work as easy and stressfree as possible. It seems to me that there are lots of guidelines in place for looking after a pregnant woman at work but nothing at all for when she returns after having the baby and maybe this needs to be looked at by people more important than me.
Anyway, all’s well that ends well as they say. Pity it’s taken nearly a year to get to this point.
