Returning to work after a baby/Part time

trinnylilac

I am due to return back to work after the new year. I have taken the whole year off and I am now realised I have to start looking for childminders /nursery's etc. I don't want to work as much hours as before as I will not be earning hardly anything due to paying for childcare and I would like to spend as much time with my baby as I can. I feel I have to return there as I know the job well , have a pension and don't want to start in the job market again from scratch in 5 years time.

Does anyone know what the law is in regards to reducing your hours.

I used to work 25 hours per week but only want to return on 16 hours over two long days.

This has been refused. I work for a Big company with lots of employees doing the same job but they say for business purposes I have to do at least 20 hours.

Can anyone direct me to a detailed site that gives me information on returning to work detailing rights about reduced hours etc or give me any advice that they have..

katskorner

It is worth visiting the http://www.maternityalliance.org.uk/ as they have information about this and your rights. They also have a helpline. I believe you can ask to reduce your hours and they have to have a solid business case to refuse. Also you can request flexible working hours too while you have young children.

I didn't return to work after having my son as I was made redundant and have now got another on the way so I am not fully up-to-date with the laws as I once was.

On a side note: Remember that there is a new scheme operated by the government offering childcare vouchers and that this may be beneficial to you. As you work for a large company they are likely to be aware of this and possibly already offer it. It will save a lot of money on childcare. There are various threads already knocking about. We use then through my husbands company and it is saving me a fortune - I work freelance sometimes so I get a variable income.

sarahb

Have you looked at this ?
http://www.dti.gov.uk/er/flexible.htm

Hope you manage to get it sorted out !

trinnylilac

Thank so much it is exactly what I am looking for ,

It is soo stressful I can't tell you ,what with that,trying to find a nice dentist,car playing up,baby not sleeping,eldest discovering boys,kitchen roofs got a leek .............I need a holiday.

Only I can't afford one lol. :doh:

banana1975

Hi

I am trying to arrange my hours to go back to work as want to go back part time after my maternity leave. I am having panic attacks though as my work did not receive the original request and therefore I am due to go back on the 13th February but do not know what hours I will be completing or even if they will let me work part time at all!!
I have now just read that it can take up to 12 weeks to arrange this - my work never advised me of this only that I had to give 28 days notice of when I wanted to return which I have done.

What can I do? I cannot go back full time as I would not be able to afford the childcare and also could not bear to be seperated from my baby for 5 days a week. It is a large company that already has part time workers in my position - but they seem to be dragging their heels!
Help!

Judi101

Unfortunately not your answer Banana1975 but another question. I am just starting maternity leave (baby due on Saturday) but due to various reasons I wont bore you all with there is currently no job to go back to for me at the moment. I thought that they had to find me one but have just read in the company literature that they will 'do their best' and if there isnt a job make me redundant. As I havent worked for them for 2 years by the time I go back they dont need to pay me much redundancy either. Anyone know if this is legit? As I work for a large company I am unfortunately assuming it is. So that means extra pressure of finding a job to start in 26 weeks time.

mummytofour

Stay home and enjoy your little one. :A

kit

mummytofour wrote:

Stay home and enjoy your little one. :A

I would love to do this but my DD is 11 months and I have just had to go and get a part time job....... we just couldnt afford to live without me working.
:wall:

Red_Elle

This website may well help

http://164.36.164.20/er/individual/flexible-pl516.htm

It's also DTI, but summarises it all quite well. Sorry it has the same info on the previous link provided. It points out that you can appeal against a decision. It is much, much easier for a very large company to accommodate such a request and they have less reason to decline. I work for a two man band and when I have time off to have a family,it is understandible that my position will need to be replaced and that the company may not be able to afford to take me back. It basically depends on how detrimental to the business you being there on a part time basis would be.

Savvy_Sue

The Maternity Alliance used to be the place to go for questions like this, but they've folded and are redirecting enquiries to Working Families. Don't know if there is anything helpful on their website, or look at ACAS, but I agree that a large company OUGHT to be able to make something available, if not your original job on part-time hours!

banana1975

Judi101 wrote:

Unfortunately not your answer Banana1975 but another question. I am just starting maternity leave (baby due on Saturday) but due to various reasons I wont bore you all with there is currently no job to go back to for me at the moment. I thought that they had to find me one but have just read in the company literature that they will 'do their best' and if there isnt a job make me redundant. As I havent worked for them for 2 years by the time I go back they dont need to pay me much redundancy either. Anyone know if this is legit? As I work for a large company I am unfortunately assuming it is. So that means extra pressure of finding a job to start in 26 weeks time.

I thought that if you are only taking 26 weeks that you had to go back to the job that you were in - if you take the extended time off unpaid then they will try and find something similar but could be slightly different. May be worth you double checking the information on the website TIGER.com which points out all your rights and also sets up a maternity calander for you as well.

Spoke to my work yesterday and I have a meeting with them on Thursday to discuss hours and my return. Fingers crossed that it is the hours that I want.