O/T What do u all do???

[KikoDinoGirl]

I am a teacher so am just starting half term (YAY!!! Although why i've been up for the last 3hours, is anyone's guess!!). I love my job, but would really like to go back part time (which i doubt, financially i will e able to afford). I am also hoping to work up to 38 weeks, anyone else planning on doing the same? My school aren't too happy, i don't think (although they haven't actully said) as this will mean i will be going back to schhol for a couple of weeks after the eser hols. I get the feeling they would like a nice neat finish date, which would be the last day of the spring term. I don't know whether to reconsider?

Teacher to teacher talk Doesn't matter if your school aren't happy. They can only force you to start maternity leave 4 weeks before your EDD if you are off sick for pregnancy related sickness. I am due on August 17th and am working up to the six weeks holidays and then starting maternity leave on day of birth (unless baby comes before hand) I personally think school pays and conditions in relation to maternity leave aren't great, so definately take advantage of our really good holidays. Absoutely don't reconsider for the sake of your school, do what's best for you and no one else.

 

[babyblonde]

I'm a Speech and Language Therapist - I work in a psychiatric hospital for older adults mainly supporting people with feeding and swallowing difficulties.

 

[Betula]

I'm a botanical illustrator, and since I'm freelance I can also be a SAHM

 

[KikoDinoGirl]

I'm a botanical illustrator

Thats the most amazing job!

 

[emmarushuk]

Gatecrashing

I am a PA to a sales manager at an interantional Investment company. I enjoy it and am a bit apprehensive about leaving in 5 weeks as I have never been out of work since I left school however its a full time role and I don't want to return full time after 9 months. I had planned on applying to become a paramedic and found out I was pregnant 2 days before they announced that were recruiting

 

[Betula]

I'm a botanical illustrator

Thats the most amazing job!

Thanks! It is actually really good. I do drawings for the botanists at the Botanic Gardens here and it's so relaxed and interesting

 

[Tenshineko]

I work full time for the Homeoffice, my DH has the same job as me

 

[Honey83]

I am a teacher so am just starting half term (YAY!!! Although why i've been up for the last 3hours, is anyone's guess!!). I love my job, but would really like to go back part time (which i doubt, financially i will e able to afford). I am also hoping to work up to 38 weeks, anyone else planning on doing the same? My school aren't too happy, i don't think (although they haven't actully said) as this will mean i will be going back to schhol for a couple of weeks after the eser hols. I get the feeling they would like a nice neat finish date, which would be the last day of the spring term. I don't know whether to reconsider?

Teacher to teacher talk Doesn't matter if your school aren't happy. They can only force you to start maternity leave 4 weeks before your EDD if you are off sick for pregnancy related sickness. I am due on August 17th and am working up to the six weeks holidays and then starting maternity leave on day of birth (unless baby comes before hand) I personally think school pays and conditions in relation to maternity leave aren't great, so definately take advantage of our really good holidays. Absoutely don't reconsider for the sake of your school, do what's best for you and no one else.

Thanks for that...i know i shouldn't be even hinking of considering, but you know what its like in a school...always trying to ensure everybody is kept happy. I was starting to feel guilty, that i was perhaps being a pain in the ass!!
You're due date is pretty much ideal...and especially as they will let you start your maternity leave from your due date. My sister in law is also a teacher and was due on 3rd august last year...she had to really battle our LEA to do that...but won eventually (her son was then born on 13th july...the week before the schools broke up!! ). Are you planning on going back to work full time?

xx

 

[Minxy Moo]

Sorry that the teachers have hijacked this thread! I work in a secondary school, am a head of department. i worked to 37 weeks with my last baby to get paid through the easter hols and managed to negotiate going back part time but kept responsibilities. It's hard work but the days at home deffinitely help, i don't get so tired although I am expected to do a full time job in 3 days. A very male-dominated senior team does not help!Hoping to do same again this time to get May half term paid!

 

[Minxy]

I'm an employability skills tutor, doing a lot of ESOl stuff at the mo. If you sign on for too long, you get sent to me!! I'm like Pauline from League of Gentlemen (the one with the pens)

 

[splashmonkey]

LMAO Minxy guard those pens!!!

 

[Frog99]

I run my own business and so work from home. Which is great in a way but a right bummer in others, so hard to be motivated at the moment, plus I can't exactly relax and enjoy maternity leave and can't afford to pay myself a decent maternity package either! Ah well.

Sounds like my life. I started my own Internet Marketing Consultancy in June after being made redundant. So now I run my own business from home.

PROS - I get to work flexible hours, raid the fridge whenever in need and can have an afternoon nap if required.
CONS - I don't make very much money, no maternity leave and very very little maternity pay

Thought about closing the business so I can concentrate on being a mum but I'm not eligbile for any benefits so can't afford to. Just have to keep scraping though each month I guess...

 

[splashmonkey]

It's rough isn't it. Still you know it'll come in handy when the baby comes, at least we won't have go out to work full time or anything, even though we can't just take 6 months off. Hey ho, there's people that only get SMP anyway even though they've got a proper job, so I guess we shouldn't complain lol.

 

[Mama 2 Be]

Technically my job is Office Manager

But being as I'm the only one in the office (scratches head) the fact of the matter is I'm a glorified dogs body and tea maker who is desperately trying to find a replacement for her maternity leave which is proving a tad difficult! I don't understand why nobody wants to do my job for the pittance I get paid!?!?!

So basically if you can make tea and type a letter please send me your CV. 'Fatties' (as the part time woman who works here referes to us pregnant ladies as) - need not apply!

Maternity pay is Statutory Maternity Pay so at least I get a year off practically unpaid before being dragged kicking and screaming back to my desk!

 

[shezza30]

I work for an Investment Management company in the city of London and basically deal with debt management and other interesting stuff (not). Are you still awake? Am so fed up today, can't concentrate coz I have pulled my back, am sitting at my desk during my lunch break which is always a mistake coz I get roped into working!!!!

Anyway, the maternity package is very good, full pay for 6 months and SMP for a further 3 months, I will probably come back to work after 10-11 months and will leave at the end of June taking 4 weeks annual leave before my maternity leave starts so will be 38 weeks when mat leave actually starts. Wish I had an exciting job like some of you ladies, but hey at least it pays the bills.

 

[Bexter]

I was in Air Traffic Control in RAF until August when I decided to leave to stay at home with Maddison. I am hoping to study to be a midwife in a couple of years after this baby

Hey Snuggle, where were you based if you don't mind me asking? I used to be in ATC in the RAF too and was based at Brize although i left wow, nearly 8 years ago.

I'm now work for the NHS as a GP out of hours call handler. The job is ok, and it's nice being home in the day although working weekends can suck. I'm currently full time but hoping to go back part time after maternity leave.

 

[sueken]

I'm a lady of leisure

My hubby has his own garage and i'm suppose to be the office manager but i don't get paid so can't get any maternity pay

So really i'm a lady who lunches.(I'm a WAG without the footballer husband)

 

[Two]

I'm a Technical Analyst (in I.T.) for a large Telecommunications company. I love my job although it can be very stressfull at times and includes a lot of travelling but I will be cutting that down as soon as bubba arrives.

My bosses are really good though and we are having a call tomorrow to discuss them spreading my workload out so that I can just take it relatively easy for the rest of my pregnancy.

As for my entitlement, I get 6 months full pay then 3 months SMP with the option of extending my maternity leave to a year (the final bit would be unpaid though). So I guess it's not a bad package really. We used to get a months tax free salary just for returning to work after maternity but they scrapped that last year unfortunately....!

 

[kathmac]

I used to be a Modern Studies teacher (secondary) but gave it up to be at home with the wee ones, dont miss it at all!!!!!

 

[rusks]

i'm a paediatric nurse working with adolescents mainly.

Cool - are the kids physically unwell or?

I am a headteacher of an adolescent mental health unit for pupils with mental health needs (things like schizophrenia, psychosis, OCD, anorexia etc) I very much enjoy it, but it makes me tired I won't be able to be a stay at home mum, which is a shame in a way, but I think I would miss work! Only time will tell.

we get physical and mental illness. more and more self harm, overdoses eating disorders etc as well as the bog standard appendicitis and asthma attacks!! its varied thats for sure!!