Do I want to return to Govt Job for Maternity benefit????

kittycatt24 · by **kittycatt24** » Wed May 09, 2022 6:12 am

V lucky to go back. People are not automatically allowed go back immediately or at all after public sector career breaks! Have heard of Max 3 years never five. Best of luck with it

What he asked you goes against Equality/equal status acts and u are within your rights not to answer it, or tell him he can't ask questions like that... But in acting like that may be telling him all he needs to know!

galwaygirl2010 · by **galwaygirl2010** » Wed May 09, 2022 6:21 am

[quote=" 5 Years? Why is this Job suddenly after 5 years of working private so amazing to go back to? A lot of people indirectly or directly affected are entitled in fairness to ask these questions.[/quote]

As far as I know - in the public sector you can take a career break of up to 5 years. A friend of mine works in healthcare and a few years ago took a career break. Worked in the private sector for a couple of years and then decided to return to her original position. When she told her boss, he said she couldnt come back to her original position in the city but they had the same position available in another town over an hour away. She came over to my house that night ranting and raving but I have to say, hard as I tried, I couldnt muster much sympathy for her as she chose to leave her original position in the first place.

To the OP - while he was proably not very PC in asking you that question, I know from the same friend as mentioned above, that they are starting to crack down on people taking "advantage" of the system. Same friend went on a 4 day week 2 years ago after she had her daughter, and later went back to 5 day week. She asked about doing the same next year after she has her second child and her boss said no - if we can cope with you only doing a 4 day week, we dont need you to come back full time so you either go permenantly to a 4 day week or you stay doing 5 days.

drummerswife2b · by **drummerswife2b** » Wed May 09, 2022 7:43 am

As others have said he was wrong to ask the question but he was correct in assuming it.

As a person who has been covering a career break for the last five years, I don't have much sympathy. I've been waiting every year with bated breath to see has the person who I'm covering for decided she's made up her mind about what she wants to do. If it was a case of I'm raising my family for a few years that's fair enough but oh I want to try out a new job but if I don't like it can I have my old one back is a bit to much having your cake in my opinion. But you didn't make the rules so enjoy your old job and best of luck.

by **greenbaby** » Wed May 09, 2022 8:02 am

Five years is the normal max of a career break in a government job as far as I'm aware but it doesn't have to be taken all together. I can actually remember when some civil servants were offered the deal you got with the option of returning at the end of the break. It was only available for a while and it's not your fault you took up the offer which was available to you in greener times. Your boss was totally inappropriate (illegal i imagine) in asking you that question, mortifying that he did as you know this to be true but who knows how long it will take to get pregnant and when you do your boss will have a staffing issue to deal with but he is paid more than everyone else because he has to deal with these issues. Good luck on you ttc journey.

MLeFleuffe · by **MLeFleuffe** » Wed May 09, 2022 8:09 am

You said this was a meeting and not an interview. So you are assured your job back regardless of what you say in that meeting. Your boss was crass and inappropriate in what he said - even though he was 100% right in his assumption! HR should probably have a word with him about what he says to staff as someone could complain about sensitive questions being asked. However, as it wasn't an interview and you couldn't claim that you didn't get the job based on future family planning plans his question won't impact your career at all.

It was only uncomfortable for you because your answer was "yes"!!!

hollylol · by **hollylol** » Wed May 09, 2022 9:39 am

Mama2 · by **Mama2** » Wed May 09, 2022 10:54 am

He's probably not allowed to ask but it's a farce that someone can take 5 years out and then go back to a job only to go on mat leave immediately. It's the definition of what's wrong with the civil service. And I speak as someone who is married to a civil servant. I hear of the p*ss being taken out of the system every day.

BrideOfRecession · by **BrideOfRecession** » Wed May 09, 2022 11:10 am

I can't believe this is allowed to happen. It's things like this that have everyone hating on the public sector.

KNow its not your fault OP but I'm sure you can understand why people would this is taking the pi$$.

MrsOC2012 · by **MrsOC2012** » Wed May 09, 2022 11:12 am

Mama2 wrote:He's probably not allowed to ask but it's a farce that someone can take 5 years out and then go back to a job only to go on mat leave immediately. It's the definition of what's wrong with the civil service. And I speak as someone who is married to a civil servant. I hear of the p*ss being taken out of the system every day.

+ 1 And my H2B is also a civil servant. No offence to OP and I know it's not your fault that the system is the way it is. But I really think it's a joke that someone can take a 5 year career break, head off to work in the private sector. Then when they decide they want the benefits of a government job, come back and be welcomed with open arms. The mind boggles!

But good luck to you OP, I wish you the very best of luck!! If I was in your position I'd be diong the exact same thing!!

Why didn't I listen to my father and take that civil service exam...???? :o0

Bonnie Parker · by **Bonnie Parker** » Wed May 09, 2022 11:28 am

Mama2 wrote:He's probably not allowed to ask but it's a farce that someone can take 5 years out and then go back to a job only to go on mat leave immediately. It's the definition of what's wrong with the civil service. And I speak as someone who is married to a civil servant. I hear of the p*ss being taken out of the system every day.

Well to be fair, this is a very unusual situation and is certainly not common. All career break contracts for CS have a clause that the person is not permitted to work PAYE in Ireland. I know a lot of people on CBs, none of them are working, some are raising their family, others are traveling.

I don't think the OP said she was a civil servant, more a public servant.

Someone mentioned the HSE, I think they have different rules - I think you can work private while on CB.

I don't think there is anything wrong with CBs as such, you can be waiting up to a year for your job back and you may be moved. Obviously you can't claim SW etc.

hollylol · by **hollylol** » Wed May 09, 2022 11:46 am

Cricky,

I understand where you are coming from with your comments that the system is a farce etc etc..

Its not my fault that the system is like this, this is crooked ireland we are living in....

Should I put a halt on ttc and for how long?? a year minimum???? it could take me years to get pg... I dont know why I should out a halt on it, as I said its what me and my oh want... if they took me back last year we wouldnt have been ttc so would that have been okay????

But I am seriously feeling terrible about this and what people would think if I did take up my post and please god that I can have a baby.... and I shouldnt be feeling this way as it is my job...

galwaygirl2010 · by **galwaygirl2010** » Wed May 09, 2022 12:04 pm

hollylol wrote:
IBut I am seriously feeling terrible about this and what people would think if I did take up my post and please god that I can have a baby.... and I shouldnt be feeling this way as it is my job...

But is it your job? You left (all be it on a career break) and are now working in another job. Is there someone already working in the department you want to return to and will they have to leave for you to come back? and if not, if they have done without anyone in that job for the last 5 years, why do they need you back? Sorry - dont mean to beat up on you, I know its the system thats at fault.

Mama2 · by **Mama2** » Wed May 09, 2022 12:30 pm

It's a fault in the system, it's just unfortunate that you still feel after leaving 5 years ago and working somewhere else for that time that this is till your job.
Ultimately you'll be allowed to return and of course you're not going to put your life on hold and stop TTC but it still doesn't make it right. I don't really see any difference between your situation and someone expecting a previous employer to give them back a job they previously decided to leave. In the private sector you'd be laughed out of it.
I think you're using the system to your advantage, and you can't be blamed for that. It doesn't mean that people have to like it though.

Elphaba · by **Elphaba** » Wed May 09, 2022 12:34 pm

I know in our place you can have a 3 or 5 year career break, but your original job is only "safe" for 1 year. If you take a 3 or 5 year break you can come back and be first in line for an interview for any positions that become available at the same grade.

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