Quitting while on maternity leave

[MothersMilk]

I have been asking myself this question for a couple of months now. "Should i quit my job while on maternity leave or just go back?"

I absolutely hate my job and have had many problems with management over the years. I took maternity leave (due back in May) only because i thought we would need the extra money.
Turns out we are quite comfortable living off of DH income and he also just got a pay rise :yelclap:
He wants me to quit as they haven't treated me that well and i want to quit because i hate it and my wage would cover childcare and that's about all.

The trouble is i am scared to quit as i feel obliged to go back.
I don't know, just wanted to get this out of head by writing it down.

Has anyone quit while on maternity leave? and if so how did it go? what was the reaction?

[missie_mack]

I was in a similar position to you July just gone. Work had become a stressful place pre DS as in my manager felt I had betrayed him (long story) with my career change within the company. So I took 2 years off work and like you we lived reasonably comfortably.

However after umming and ahhing I decided to return to work 3 days a week in July and yanno what I love it. Half the dribble that goes on no longer bothers me, people have moved on, I am only there half the time and TBH having a baby gave me a new perspective :o My advice is to go back to work and if things resume you know you already have the ability to say when you have enough (which really is a wonderful liberating feeling!) I also get a couple of hours a week to myself which is nice too.

Otherwise look in and see if you are able to extend your parental leave further. Legislations have changed in many states and federal awards allowing longer leave entitlements than before too

[MothersMilk]

Thanks missie mack.
I do contemplate going back and seeing what it's like (after all a year will have past).
Arrrr I'm so torn :confused:

[mummeeto2]

I quit while on maternity leave & haven't regretted it. For me, I was completely sick of the job and the politics of the place. I was still in contact with a few people I worked with & they said nothing changed. A few months before I was due back the dept manager rang just to check in & I told her our situation, (I was happy, didn't really need the work & my wages would only cover childcare). She was really good about it, I just had to put it in writing. On my leave application I said that depending on how things were I might not return & they were happy for me to have that option.

[zenifa]

I also quit my job whilst on maternity leave with DD1 and I have no regrets!
I loved my job, but there were some issues with other team members (it was a small team, so although I wasn't directly involved in the conflict, it affected us all!) and after having my maternity leave to think about it, I decided not to return and to spend more time with DD1 (& I went into private practice).
The reaction when I decided not to go back, was mixed, most people were happy for me, but some were disappointed (actually they were disappointed I had a baby and left on mat leave in the first place). At the end of the day I needed to do what was right for ME and my family.

Later on I took on a part time locum and once pregnant with DD2 I took on a part time job which I love and again had maternity leave and now occasionally go back to help them out.

If you don't want to go back, and neither does your DH, and you can manage financially and it won't affect your future career prospects, then go for it.

Good luck with your decision, from the OP, it seems you have already made it and just need to do it!!

[missie_mack]

Thanks missie mack.
I do contemplate going back and seeing what it's like (after all a year will have past).
Arrrr I'm so torn :confused:

Do you have the ability to extend it a further year? :detective:

[jaq]

I didn't just quit while on maternity leave - I left the country and still claimed my entitlements from the other side of the world! (ie, Australia).

My company actually encouraged me to do so - I knew we were going back to Australia, but they wanted to leave things open formally just in case I changed my mind, and as the HR director said - I'd worked my *** off for them for five years - I was entitled to six months maternity leave, whether I intended to come back or not.

Think of it as something you've earned my putting up with all their **** in the past, rather than something ongoing. Going back isn't necessarily part of the deal - many women quit while on leave. Its impossible to know how you will feel about leaving your baby before you've had the child - its very different for each woman.

One thing you need to check, though - the Australian approach to maternity leave is often about the individual employment contract you have signed - some companies will make you pay back money if you don't return to work. Check your paperwork before making the decision - you could be better off going back for a week, or a month, then resigning, if your contract has any nasty surprises.

[Bron]

I reached the end of 12 months maternity leave then asked for and was given a further 12 months. After 3 months of the second year, I resigned. I'd decided to set up my own business instead of returning to a job that I did love, but that really couldn't be done part time.

Best decision I ever made. But yes, do check. Some organisations pay you for longer periods of mat leave and you have to repay them if you don't come back.

[MothersMilk]

I have checked my contract and there is nothing about having to pay back my maternity leave money if i don't return. I assume it would have to be written down for them to do that??? i hope
I don't have the ability to extend further (i tried that earlier:D)
I think that quitting is the best thing for me and my family - I'm terrified to make the call though.

[zenifa]

I have checked my contract and there is nothing about having to pay back my maternity leave money if i don't return. I assume it would have to be written down for them to do that??? i hope
I don't have the ability to extend further (i tried that earlier:D)
I think that quitting is the best thing for me and my family - I'm terrified to make the call though.

I had to do it in writing, not just phone my boss and resign. Check what the requirements are in your contract/work agreement, also how much notice time you need to give them ie you may need to resign at least 4 weeks before the end of your maternity leave (for example).

[MothersMilk]

I had to do it in writing, not just phone my boss and resign. Check what the requirements are in your contract/work agreement, also how much notice time you need to give them ie you may need to resign at least 4 weeks before the end of your maternity leave (for example).

I realise this - but the phone call is the first step, then the paperwork can be done.
I need two weeks notice.

Thanks for the info guys :thumbsup:

[Zada]

yep I worked for safeway and quit before i was due to go back. They were fine with it as far as I know lol

[Lil07]

I'd been with my company for 9 years before I went on maternity leave. I really never thought I'd go back after I had my bub, but kept an open mind about it.

I was entitled to a long service leave pay out (pro rata) which the bosses offered to pay me in installments over 6 months. That made me feel obligated to go back but once I'd been paid and once my hub and I talked it over, we decided that there was no way we'd put our little one in childcare, so I resigned after 6 months on maternity leave.

I felt that it wasn't right to string the bosses out for another 6 months knowing full well that I wouldn't be going back so I bit the bullet and told them I wasn't coming back.

I don't regret it at all. We've tightened our belts now being on 1 wage but it's totally worth it knowing I can give my daughter all of my time during these first few years.

Go for it!!! :thumbsup:

[delirium]

I quit thru my maternity leave with my 1st. Just like you, I hated the job before I left. I had a boss that treated me like gold until he found out I was pg. After that he was horrible to me, like I had betrayed him bc I got pg :rolleyes: I only put in for 6 months leave, but when there was about 6 weeks to go, I rang and told management that I was leaving bc I wanted to stay home with my DD. I gave my written notice and that was it.

I've never regretted it. I always wanted to be a SAHM with my kids bc my mum wasn't. Not only was the boss a d!ck, but the industry was highly stressful and not child friendly.

It's your choice what you do, but don't not quit solely bc you're too scared to tell them. If you want independence or extra cash, then great, return to work. But the whole childcare thing is one of the big reasons I didn't return.

[MothersMilk]

Thank you for all the replies :)

I've decided i am quitting YAY :smiliedance:
I suppose i already knew that before i posted but wanted to hear other peoples stories.

[delirium]

Good for you :D

[JabberJaw]

Well done for deciding :yelclap:, i quit my job while on maternity leave too. I was doing kitchen design and it was dead boring, they didnt pay me right and the boss was an @ss....best thing i ever did.

I am thinking about finding a part time job for myself as hubby finishes work by 2 everyday so an nice arvo job would be great! Dunno my chances but fingers crossed.

[Adelaides Mum]

:yelclap: Congrats on quitting :p

Im about to do the same thing. I am due back in Aug (Payments run out in Feb) but we are moving to Brissy mid year so my mum can help with childcare and I can work part time. We dont see the point in me working to pay childcare and missing out on seeing DD because of it.

Im just going to write a letter to quit. You have to do what is right for your family :goodvibes:

[mim1]

Congrats on making the decision to quit. You'll feel happier now that you've firmly made the decision. This also gives your employer plenty of time to find someone to keep doing your job after you were due to return.

[lolly137]

I left my job while on leave with DS. Most heartbreaking thing to do as I loved my job (it wasn't a stressful job, workmates are great ppl). My boss was very accommodating with both pregnancies, but knew that the deciding factor would be cc costs (i would have brought home $3 after cc & tax). In my letter, i made it clear that this is why I was leaving and since then if they ever need help for an event to just give me a call.

You will miss the company and adult talk, but you have to do what is best for your family.

[Hokey Pokey]

Enjoy your time at home!! Wish I could quit, LOL!!