HR Question - please help if you can, this is keeping me up at night...

I have worked at my current job for approximately 7 years. During my time there, I had a child. I was paid in full (my whole salary) for my 4 month maternity leave.

This is not company policy, but I was told by my Supervisor that "this is what our department does" for senior people. For the record, documented company policy would have been 8 weeks of full pay because I had a c-section.

So, I collected full pay and occasionally worked from home during my maternity leave.

NOW, (3 years later!!!) I am hearing that Sr. Management has taken issue with the fact that some people were paid for their entire maternity leave. I had no idea Sr. Management was unaware this was going on. I assumed my Supervisor cleared this with whomever the appropriate channels were at the time... Anyway, there are rumors that they may ask us to pay the company back! I have nothing in writing from my former Supervisor (and she is no longer with my company).

My question: Can they make me pay them back? I understand now that it wasn't company policy, but my SUPERVISOR was arranging the whole thing. Do you think at least I would have a right to ask for some type of payment plan?

Thanks in advance...

Re: HR Question - please help if you can, this is keeping me up at night...

Honestly, this is JMO, but you need to confront your employer about this.

I have done this at work when "rumors" begin to circulate.

Maybe I'm ballsy, but if something is being said in the sidelines, especially concerning MY position and pay, I will ask.

I did this recently when "rumors" were circulating amongst the team that "I" wasn't doing my job. I went directly to the person who was saying these things and told her if she had issue, to speak to my supervisor, because any directives concerning my duties come from him.

I also had the same conversation with him as well as another supervisor before I confronted her, to cover myself.

Every employer is different too.

I worked from home when I went on maternity leave so I was still paid something.

Re: HR Question - please help if you can, this is keeping me up at night...

I agree, I would ask your boss about this. I do know that where I work, they paid my coworker out more vacation then she ended up having in her bank, and they did ask her for it back. But this was a clear policy stated to her before she went out.

Re: HR Question - please help if you can, this is keeping me up at night...

How large is your company? Is it a small company that's now having financial difficulties?

I would sit tight, ignore the rumors and don't participate in gossip, speculation and rumors. Don't bring it up, don't ask others what they're hearing; avoid it completely. You may choose to consult an attorney, as well.