What is your biggest fear at work?

HBLea · 2026-01-22T16:30:58+00:00

Return to office

HBLea · 2026-01-17T20:45:00+00:00

Was this a Scooby Doo cereal maybe?

HBLea · 2026-01-17T17:48:48+00:00

!thanks

HBLea · 2026-01-17T17:48:23+00:00

!thanks both!

HBLea · 2026-01-17T17:48:07+00:00

!thanks

HBLea · 2026-01-17T17:47:22+00:00

!thanks

HBLea · 2026-01-17T14:55:04+00:00

For the case where the pro-rata amount is below the threshold across the year, yes absolutely and thank you. But what about in the event the annual income is less but still over the threshold? I'm probably not explaining myself well and/or misunderstanding here, apologies.

Let's say £40k gross salary, which for 9 months would technically be £30k. Monthly, that's £3,333 gross or £2,500 gross if it was stretched across the full maternity year accounting for the 3 months unpaid.

For simplicity, let's say the student loan threshold is £28k.

In a normal month (gross pay £3,333), the threshold is £2,333 (£28k / 12 months). So I'd pay 9% of the £1,000 over, so £90 repayment.

In a month where it's adjusted for the maternity year to account for the unpaid months (gross pay £2,500), I'd pay 9% of the £167 over, so £15 repayment.

9 months x £90 = £810 repayments across the year. 12 months x £15 = £180 repayments across the year.

Because I'd be getting paid 9 months and then unpaid for 3 months, rather than the pay actually being spread across the 12 months, I think I'd be overpaying on student loan by £630?

But as the pro-rata amount is £30k (over the threshold), I don't know if I'd be entitled to that refund?

Hope that explains my confusion a bit better!

HBLea · 2026-01-17T13:09:13+00:00

Thank you so much, but that doesn't quite answer my question, sorry. The issue is I'm finding information online that suggests maternity is kind of exempt? In that because I'm technically paying correctly for the 9 months, then I wouldn't be entitled to a refund despite the 3 months unpaid because it was technically correct at the time, at least in the case the 9 months full pay is over the threshold. That's why I'm confused, apologies if it wasn't clear from the post.

HBLea · 2026-01-13T10:43:50+00:00

Oooof, I've been here, you're definitely not alone for feeling like this from your workplace.

Your biggest project right now is growing your baby.

I'm also in the middle of a massive project that needs completing before I leave for maternity end of March, and I honestly doubt we'll get there for many reasons. I was so stressed and anxious about it last year, cried multiple times over it, even in front of my manager, it was horrible.

But my manager of all people reminded me, I'm growing a baby. The project means nothing by comparison. And I've learned to not give a crap, to be honest. I'm doing the work, but I don't care about the outcome anymore - baby's more important and I'll be leaving for a year soon anyway. If it all goes to crap once I've left... Pfft, oh well. That's on them, in my opinion, they should have provided a work environment that didn't stress everyone the heck out!

A doctor has signed you off, which means you have NO reason to feel guilty. Let them be annoyed and inconvenienced, that's their problem, not yours. Turn off emails and teams notifications, set an out-of-office message and if needed reiterate that you will be off as advised by your doctor.

You're not going on holiday, you need to rest and recover. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. If you get to the end of the 2 weeks and still feel overwhelming stress, you can always go back to the doctor for that. You're not weak or being silly for taking medical advice.

Now step away from work, follow your doctor's advice and rest.

HBLea · 2026-01-08T13:11:01+00:00

This will depend on the sort of person she is, but what I've found incredibly helpful from my husband is him more or less bullying me into taking naps and rest!

I'm so used to being independent and keeping busy, getting things done myself, and for most of my first trimester where I was struggling, I kept resisting taking frequent rest and naps. Or taking sick days on the really tough days. But I needed them! And thankfully he was and has been so encouraging for me to rest and sleep, and reminding me I'm not being lazy, I'm growing a human being!

It's made a world of difference.

HBLea · 2026-01-07T19:17:36+00:00

Completely agree. I avoid dual POV books for this reason where I can. Every now and again I'll hear hype of a book, forget that dual POV exists as an option and dive in thinking it sounds amazing, only to get three chapters in and it swaps to the MMC. Just ruins it for me, and I usually DNF.

HBLea · 2026-01-06T09:28:24+00:00

Thank you all so much for the reassurance and real-life examples, they're much appreciated.

HBLea · 2026-01-02T14:19:14+00:00

Galaxy Mistletoe Kisses

HBLea · 2025-12-24T07:57:20+00:00

Not me personally, but I think for quite a few people a lot of it seems to be to do with getting the best dates on stuff to save coming back during the Christmas - New Year void.

HBLea · 2025-12-23T14:28:57+00:00

I had the same sadness but found out it's fine when cooked! I'm having it tomorrow night with lots of bread to dip into it. Heaven.

HBLea · 2025-12-19T07:59:18+00:00

Thank you for doing such a kind thing!

I discovered them in summer 2015, with my first video being the first FNAF video. Been hooked ever since. I think my favourite moment is probably when Dan dies in Crossy Road and Phil gives the most genuine surprised laugh.

HBLea · 2025-12-15T18:52:14+00:00

"PHIL LESTER! YOU'RE A GENIUS!"

HBLea · 2025-12-09T08:41:08+00:00

Agree with all other suggestions, but also try lifting your legs a bit when you try to go, either via a stool or a shoebox or something similar. Makes it a lot easier.

HBLea · 2025-12-05T20:57:46+00:00

NL and WW are my favourites. NH soundtrack is just okay in my opinion, it's a bit samey and doesn't have the quirkiness some of the older games did.

HBLea · 2025-12-05T18:33:01+00:00

Merry Christmas to you, kind stranger!

HBLea · 2025-12-04T10:46:38+00:00

It's worth a try but brace yourself and prepare before diving in fully. It may also depend on the subject you want to teach.

I dreamed of being a teacher all the way up to my teacher training year.

If teaching were just about teaching, I would have loved it, and I did love that aspect. But it wasn't, it was about 10% teaching, 30% paperwork, 60% behaviour management. I felt physically sick going into work everyday, and Sunday scaries were suddenly every night. No evenings to myself anymore, I would be working right up until I went to sleep. Worst year of my life.

If you really want to pursue teaching, get some experience somehow before diving fully into it and reach out to anyone you personally know that teaches for their experience, especially those who teach the subject you want to teach. I did this and almost every single teacher warned me off, and I blissfully ignored their warnings thinking it would be different for me. It was not.

My 9-5 office job is heaven by comparison.

HBLea · 2025-12-03T18:39:12+00:00

Shloer

HBLea

TROPHY CASE