Finding work after maternity leave

N

new08

Guest
Hi,
My wife is currently on maternity leave (state only - does not receive top up from employer). Will be taking 16 wks unpaid in the next few weeks or so. Has already had conversation with employer around the possibility of goin part-time. My wife has worked for employer full time for the past 3 years. Employer has stated that full time position will be only available after she returns for maternity leave with no flexibility around part-time. This is disappointing to say the least. Working out the sums its not really worthwhile to go back full-time with childcare cost etc. I presume there will be no alternative other than to resign in this scenario and look for alternative employment on a part-time basis elsewhere. Whilst she looks for part-time employment after handing in notice would she be entitled to jobs seekers benefit whilst looking for alternative employment in the interim with stamps built up etc?
thanks.
 
new08 said:
This is disappointing to say the least.
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Disappointing but they are under no obligation to accede to the request and you can presumably see if from their point of view. However perhaps unpaid parental leave might be an option and a help?

CitizensInformation - Parental leave
I presume there will be no alternative other than to resign in this scenario and look for alternative employment on a part-time basis elsewhere.
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If at all possible she should not jack in the old job before finding something new and more flexible/suitable.
Whilst she looks for part-time employment after handing in notice would she be entitled to jobs seekers benefit whilst looking for alternative employment in the interim with stamps built up etc?
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If she voluntarily resigns then any claim for Jobseeker's Benefit/Allowance may be deferred. If she is only available for and seeking part time work then she will not qualify for payment for the days that she is not available (e.g. minding the kid(s)). www.welfare.ie has detailed information about the qualification criteria for JB/JA.
 
She should definitely go back to her full time job for at least a short while after her mat leave, then go looking for a part time job. You never know, her employer may realise her value and her efficiency and become more flexible or come to some other arrangement or she may be in line for an increase? (if she is part of the PPF agreement etc)

In today's climate a job in the hand is worth a lot and the old adage of it's easier to get a job if you have a job has never been truer.

If she does resign you have a potential open ended period without her income, this needs careful consideration.
 
I am in a similar position. Working for the same employer 10 years. Initially he agreed to a trial period on a 3 day week but now it is full time or nothing. I am also very disappointed but fully understand my employer is well within his rights. Nor will he give me parental leave.
I have resigned and am leaving next Wednesday, I have applied for job-seekers benefit so we'll see how that goes!
 
Aloysius said:
I am in a similar position. Working for the same employer 10 years. Initially he agreed to a trial period on a 3 day week but now it is full time or nothing. I am also very disappointed but fully understand my employer is well within his rights. Nor will he give me parental leave.
I have resigned and am leaving next Wednesday, I have applied for job-seekers benefit so we'll see how that goes!
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Actually he can't flat out refuse parental leave, although you need to mutually agree on the timing.
 
sandrat said:
employers dont have to agree for you to take parental leave as a day a week etc
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This is true
I am so sick of everyone telling me to take Parental leave 2 days a week.
My employer would be within his rights to insist I take it all at once and then go back to work 5 days a week so no good to me I afraid.
 
bit stupid though if you have been working there for 10 years to lose you over something like this
 
sandrat said:
bit stupid though if you have been working there for 10 years to lose you over something like this
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Tell me about it!
I really can't understand it, especially since he was ringing me at home on my maternity leave trying to get me to come back early. I even agreed to do some work from home for him, fool that I am.
He just has an unnatural aversion to part-time work for some reason I can't understand.
 
sandrat said:
employers dont have to agree for you to take parental leave as a day a week etc
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Are you certain about this? From http://www.citizensinformation.ie/c...ays/parental_leave/?searchterm=parental leave
Apart from a refusal on the grounds on non-entitlement, an employer may also postpone the leave for up to 6 months. This must be done before the confirmation document is signed. Grounds for such a postponement include lack of cover or the fact that other employees are already on parental leave. Normally only one postponement is allowed.
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OP - I would wait, too. When I returned from my paid and unpaid maternity leave everything had changed in my company. Managers, Teamleads, HR people etc. left and new ones came in. If nothing changed and her employer is still not willing to change her to part time staff after she returns to work than she can still quitt. Plus I am speaking from experiences when I say that two full time incomes are better than one considering the costs of a small child.

As for the previous poster who stated she didn't get parental leave - you are entitled to it! Your employer can postphone it once due to lack of resources (considering you are fully entitled to it. Have you taken any yet?) but not say you cannot take it at all. Also he is entitled to not allow you 2 days a week. According to the legislation (http://www.gov.ie/bills28/acts/1998/a3098.pdf) a minimum of 6 weeks should be given unless your employer agrees to break it up into smaller weeks/ days. The other right your employer has is not to pay you for the time you are on parental leave BUT that's about it. As stated above you are entitled to it and don't let anybody tell ye otherwise! :)

Disputes about parental leave may be referred by the employee or the employer to a Rights Commissioner
 
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