[Anonymous]

Here’s my issue: I will be taking maternity leave at the end of June for 14 weeks & I am undecided as to whether or not I will be going back to my current employer. On one hand, they appear to be flexible and accommodating to my work schedule after my leave is up, however they don’t seem to want to have a formal agreement in place for me to work from home, even though they say that its something I can do. Also, my current job involves international travel for weeks at a time and I am not willing to leave a 5 month old infant and jet off to Europe for two weeks straight. I’m still at the same level I was when I was hired 2.5 years ago without a pay raise, except for the standard cost of living, even though in that time, I’ve gotten my CPA license, taken on much more responsibilities, consistently receive outstanding performance reviews and have been told several times that I’ll be promoted (I’ve gotten a fuzzy timeline of January/February, then it turned into Julyish because of HR issues). There’s a woman in my department who has been here for 6 years and has never received a promotion, even though she has manager responsibilities- she’s technically a staff internal auditor, as am I. Additionally, I had a male coworker who was promoted 3 times in the 5 years he worked with us and one time, my manager actually put his own promotion on hold to promote this guy, because only one could go through at the time.

So, my sentiment has basically been that if the promotion doesn’t go through in July, I’m not planning on going back after my leave. While I’m loyal to my company and I appreciate how accommodating they’ve been with me being pregnant, my loyalty ends when it starts affecting my career (i.e. I’m eventually going to be asked when I apply for other jobs why I was never promoted).

I have started responding to recruiters on Linkedin and setting up times to chat with them, to keep my options open and connections wide. I have told them that I’m not actively looking for another opportunity at the moment but that I could be in the fall but I haven’t said why…does it seem acceptable to tell them that I’m not looking for anything else right now because I’ll be taking maternity leave in two months but that I might not go back to my employer in the fall, so I would be looking for something then?

[Missy]

Honestly I think what you've said already is 100% perfect and wouldn't elaborate. You are not actively looking but may be in the fall.

I think you've got a great grasp of where you stand already and agree with your sentiments of moving on if no promotion. Wouldn't mention maternity leave at this point, just say you feel committed to your currrent employer for the next 5 or so months but would be willing to investigate new opportunities at that point to decide if a move is right for you.

Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

Finance manager/HR manager

 

 

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Anonymous]

Thanks @mla- When I sent the email off, I wasn't sure how it sounded. I was worried it might come off like I thought there would be layoffs or something happening in the fall that would require me to be looking for something else at that time. I like the way you worded it, so I will probably go with that 🙂

[kcrc]

Never tell a recruiter that you're working with another recruiter.

If you got an interview on your own, don't tell a recruiter that you're interviewing. I was told that they'll call the company and try to undercut you.

[Author]

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