Ignored while on maternity leave

[ABitAnnoyed]

Name changed for this

I am currently on maternity leave but work for a major employer in a team leader role. I made it clear before I left that I would be as helpful as possible while on leave, and asked my line manager to keep me up to date on anything significant. I went in a couple of months ago to be on interview panel to recruit into my team, unpaid, fine, it was in my interest to do this. I have made it clear that if I can help while on leave i will, and am contactable for questions. Since the last interviews someone from my team has been appointed to cover my role while i'm on leave.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, a number of things have happened that I've only found out about when sending chatty emails to my team - sometimes weeks after the event. I do email my manager and ask if there's any news, he normally asks for me to pop in or call him, phone call is awkward with a screaming baby. There were more interviews that my cover was in on, am a bit about that, but annoyed really that I wasn't even told they were happening, or the outcome.
Am I being unreasonable in wanting to be kept informed about significant things that affect my team?? I'm probably being a bit precious about my job, but I make an effort to keep in touch, email, pop in regularly, and I don't think it's too much to ask that I am told significant things at roughly the same time my team are told.

Sorry this post rambles a bit, is this a valid concern or should I just vanish until 2 weeks before I'm due to return, because that's the way I feel at the moment?

[Lulumama]

maybe they don't want to bother you? surely the point of maternity leave is that you are at home concentrating on your baby, whilst someone covers your job? it might be hard for the other team members to have to report to you and to whoever is in your role whilst you are away.. you are not in the office, your cover is..

[RubyShivers]

you are on maternity leave!
your employers should keep you informed IIRC about major issues etc but you shouldn't be getting involved in day to day stuff

[ABitAnnoyed]

Thanks
Yes, I agree I don't want the day to day stuff, and I wouldn't expect my team to report to 2 people
But major things (one was a pay structure issue - major impact, or recruiting ne members in a team I manage), surely I should at least be told, especially since I have indicated I would like to be?

[Lulumama]

why don;t you ask for a weekly or every other week email or phone call to keep you in the loop?

[RubyShivers]

i think your employers need to tread carefully
if they were contacting you a lot you (i use this in a general sense) could say they were harrasing you etc
just enjoy your leave
sounds like they are decent employers by not bothering you
mine tried to make me redundant when i was on mat leave

[CrookshanksinJimmyChoos]

I think its about getting the balance really. My work did an office move that I wasn't informed about and only found out via friends! I thought that was totally unacceptable because you need to factor in location of office when deciding nurseries etc. I complained and its been noted...

I wouldn't want to be contacted with day to day stuff though, just major things

[ABitAnnoyed]

But hanaflower, would you not think new members of staff and changes to the pay structure are things I should have been told about?
I agree I'm probably being a bit precious (grudgingly ) but this was all agreed, and put in writing before I left. lulumama, you're right, there should have been a timetable. I understand about not wanting to hassle people when they're on ML but that's never been my boss's attitude in the past - he has been known to call people who are off sick!

[CrookshanksinJimmyChoos]

Do you think that maybe....and don't flame me for this...you maybe feeling a bit excluded from the world of work and regular contact would make you feel less so??

[Lulumama]

[CrookshanksinJimmyChoos]

[ABitAnnoyed]

No, I think you're right.
If I was in 2 minds about going back then that would be one thing, but I am definitely going back, so regular contact makes me feel less like I'm going back to a complete unknown iyswim.
No flaming at all! I appreciate opinions

[ABitAnnoyed]

oh and to RubyShivers almost being made redundant!!

[Baffy]

Can see your point. But I'd say just enjoy your maternity leave and don't even let work come into your head.
You are very unlikely to have a major say anything while you're off, your cover is there and hopefully fully capable of making major decisions (well) on your behalf, and it will all be there waiting for you when you get back... so make the most of being off. I did! And although there were major changes, new staff etc I didn't let myself worry about it. Best time of my life just being able to concentrate on me, dh and the baby. As much as I like my job, that chance doesn't come round often. So, honestly, make the most of it

[ABitAnnoyed]

You're probably right. The prospect of going back to the unknown terrifies me, it was nice to have at least a feeling that I knew what was happening but it looks as though that's not the case. So I might as well just stop thinking about it

[CrookshanksinJimmyChoos]

I can see why you want the regular contact if you know you are definitely going back..I did find it easier going back knowing all what my friends had told me unofficially! That meant when I was told officially that so and so got promoted, my rant of oh fgs I was there before them etc had already been aired and off my chest!! lol!!

[Baffy]

Sounds like a good job so I bet it's strange for you to feel a bit out of it and actually not have anything to think about regarding work. I know it did feel really strange to me. But with hindsight, it's great to be able to enjoy that freedom and total time off from all work related responsibility.

[ABitAnnoyed]

I would just prefer to know about new staff that I'm expected to directly manage
Still irritated, this just makes me feel really undermined (the situation, not this thread )

[ABitAnnoyed]

Thanks for all your replies
Won't post again as I'm going to change my name back and I'd only get confused and out myself