https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 23 Apr 2026 21:08:33 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2768417 Thu, 17 Aug 2017 19:02:28 +0000 wheres_c 2768417@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm in IT and the only female on my team. My corporate credit card got turned off while I was gone (which was annoying) but everything else initially stayed active. Certain accounts that I did not log in to within the 4 months got deactivated so I had to call to deactivate on my return. I had email, VPN the whole time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2768341 Thu, 17 Aug 2017 13:03:41 +0000 codeitall 2768341@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I realize people are worried about me notifying HR about looking for other employment, but due to several other members of my team leaving (I think we're up to 7 now) I'm the last one on my team and the only one left with a lot of institutional knowledge. So they have told me that they're willing to do a lot to keep me. I've given them a list of things that would help, this policy being one of them.</p> <p>It helps that there are at least 10 job openings in my area I could apply for each week with my skillset.</p> <p>I think this policy just comes down to the work environment still being male-oriented. If we had real maternity leaves instead of short-term disability claims that could be voided by working, we'd all have more flexibility in how we approached our time off. Some people want to stay in touch and others don't. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2768130 Wed, 16 Aug 2017 13:22:36 +0000 MissKriss19 2768130@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My Director gave me the option of keeping access to email or not. He didn't want to bother me while I was off but also wanted to keep me in the loop if I wanted it. I kept access but no one 'cc's me or anything. My out of office states that I'm on mat leave and directs the sender to my secretary who can redirect appropriately. I'm in Canada and will be on mat leave for 18 months. I'm not too worried about keeping up with what's going on as so much will change before I go back. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2768089 Wed, 16 Aug 2017 10:25:49 +0000 Mrs D 2768089@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With both my leaves I had very open and honest discussions with my bosses about expectations (on both sides) during maternity leave.</p> <p>Boss for DD1 was a man and definitely shy'ed away from cc'ing me too much. Generally it was a one way street - me checking in with him. He was VERY concerned with not disturbing me. It was kind of him - but I felt out of the loop.</p> <p>Boss for DD2 was a working mom of two - she completely got it. She kept me on every email I would have otherwise been on. She expected zero work from me - but would text occasionally (maybe 5 times during my whole leave) for urgent issues where I was the 'specialist' and could help quickest. She let me take two extra weeks as a thank you for all the help over leave. Way more than she needed to do but it was nice since it was summer.</p> <p>Our company does have a firm - no work on leave policy, but not many people go so far as to shut down email accounts! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2768058 Wed, 16 Aug 2017 07:30:53 +0000 ValentineMommy 2768058@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That happened with my second maternity leave, but for different reasons. I work for the gov, and since I hadn't logged on in awhile, they deactivate it for safety/privacy concerns. It was a pain in the butt having to get them all turned back on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2768051 Wed, 16 Aug 2017 06:07:37 +0000 Elle_watson 2768051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For me that didn't happen, telling them that you are looking for another job isn't a very good idea, never tell this to your company until unless you have a job in hand and this particular period am sure you wouldn't want to lose your job! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2762663 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 10:42:01 +0000 shabang 2762663@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runnerd: Same here. I worked for a large consulting firm, and this was protocol. It isn't where I work now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2762656 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 10:27:53 +0000 alphagam84 2762656@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know you are not supposed to work at all while out on leave, by law. I can't remember what they did with my email but I wouldn't want thousands of emails to filter through when returning! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2762646 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 09:58:35 +0000 tinyperson 2762646@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In Canada, one year mat leave, and for both, we had the option of keeping our laptop home with us or handing it in. I kept mine and stayed on top of clearing out emails and on top of office news while gone. It helped me feel not so out of the loop coming back. I didn't do any actual work though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2762638 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 09:30:23 +0000 runnerd 2762638@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>pre-kids I worked for a big bank/corporation, and yes this was the policy for people on any official leave claim - complete access shutdown. </p> <p>Not the case for me at my current small company, but sounds in line with my previous employer policy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2762631 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 09:11:39 +0000 MrsLonghorn 2762631@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nothing changed while I was on leave. But my boss was very supportive and encouraged me not to work. I simply checked email via my phone and deleted all of the newsletters and spam so that I didn't have to wade through it all when I came back. (I imagine I would have tried to be more engaged if the company was going through a major reorg though!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2762630 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 09:05:46 +0000 snowjewelz 2762630@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope. First baby I def did not check in as much; but second baby I was checking and responding to emails almost daily. And since I went early unexpectedly, I was on email at the hospital to try to tie up loose ends! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2762588 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 04:48:56 +0000 psw27 2762588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I only log in to do my timesheet. We don't have remote email access (weird, I know) and I have only checked in out of curiosity! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2762570 Thu, 27 Jul 2017 21:42:32 +0000 Pollywog 2762570@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hahaha. I was expected to work on leave or at least check in. At a minimum I had to connect to the network a few times a month to certify my time sheet (federal employee, so no maternity leave or short term disability. Just sick, annual, and unpaid) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2762564 Thu, 27 Jul 2017 20:51:48 +0000 Finfan 2762564@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had access to anything I wanted but didn't touch any of it<br /> For 12 weeks. Took a full work day when I got back to answer or delete all the accrued emails. Totally worth it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2762545 Thu, 27 Jul 2017 19:09:28 +0000 pachamama 2762545@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Public school US teacher here. I'm actually very surprised I had access to my email because yes they can invalidate your short-term disability if you work. But I had access to everything in worked on a ton of stuff. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2762543 Thu, 27 Jul 2017 19:01:53 +0000 Reese 2762543@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: @Banana330: same! I hand over my iPhone and have no access to my email or our internal system </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2762540 Thu, 27 Jul 2017 18:54:46 +0000 Banana330 2762540@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm Canadian too ours gets completely shut down.. like once I go on mat leave, I don't exist. emails just bounce back etc. It's a bit annoying as you have to reconnect with everyone when you get back. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2762531 Thu, 27 Jul 2017 18:43:18 +0000 erinbaderin 2762531@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My situation is different because I'm Canadian so I get a year and they hire somebody to do my job while I'm gone, but I had to turn in my laptop and blackberry. However a colleague is on mat leave now and they let her keep both. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2762528 Thu, 27 Jul 2017 18:38:43 +0000 skinnycow 2762528@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My email was active and I had access to my computer but didn't use either. I did zero work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2762523 Thu, 27 Jul 2017 18:31:26 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2762523@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know if it's a smart idea for you to broadcast you are planning to leave. Perhaps you can focus on things you would like to see change for you to stay.</p> <p>Typically, everything is supposed to be shut down, because companies can get in serious trouble if employees are working. While you may want and welcome doing some work, your employer cannot be seen as requiring you to do so. In my case nothing changed and thank goodness because I waited till the last day to make my benefit changes. If I hadn't had access I would have had to wait 7 months until open enrollment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2762517 Thu, 27 Jul 2017 18:17:21 +0000 matador84 2762517@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>They don't shut off my email or access to programs I need, but HR does tell us not to do any work related items while on FMLA. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2762515 Thu, 27 Jul 2017 17:54:43 +0000 YouGotMe 2762515@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My email stays active and I can use it but the only emails I receive are from HR about job postings. All my other accounts get deactivated for the time I am off </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2762511 Thu, 27 Jul 2017 17:41:17 +0000 MamaG 2762511@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was threatened with this on my first leave. Our HR director and I were at odds with one another. It was never enforced with anyone else and was ridiculous. I only accessed mail through webmail and never logged into the network at risk of having it all taken away. And the kicker was I wasn't even receiving STD because I had to use my accrued time.</p> <p>Second go round, I was highly connected. We had a different HR director and I knew better than to even ask certain questions. And I was receiving STD for part of my leave. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2762506 Thu, 27 Jul 2017 17:18:50 +0000 MACSUNSHINE 2762506@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So not quite that scenario, I was told I would not have access and I should not log on for the short term disability reason. I was of the mindset to log on to keep up with the emails but frankly enjoyed being disconnected.</p> <p>When I came back, my computer had essentially been derecognized since I never logged on and they had to build me a whole new laptop. It was a lot of fingering point, if we are lucky enough to have another I will have to figure out what is allowable since it set me back a few days upon my return. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-work-shut-off-your-accounts-during-maternity-leave#post-2762498 Thu, 27 Jul 2017 16:55:38 +0000 codeitall 2762498@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My first leave was nothing like this second one. I kept in touch, even did a couple things while I was out.</p> <p>This second one was totally the opposite. They turned off all my accounts, shut down my email, and deactivated my laptop. This made it really hard to keep in touch during a time of big layoffs and a good portion of my friends leaving for better places. And my new manager only knew me for my title (which isn't overly accurate) so I have been really pigeonholed and honestly feel like I've been phased out coming back to work.</p> <p>Supposedly, HR claims that they deactivated my accounts so that there wasn't even a chance I would work while out on Short Term Disability as that could nullify my disability claim. Since we don't have real maternity leave, just short term disability, that may be true. But I'm talking to HR on Monday and am going to cite that policy as a big detriment and part of the reason I am looking for other employment.</p> <p>Have any of you heard or experienced that policy? </p>