returning to work part time after maternity leave

janninew

Person_one wrote: »

You're blaming the wrong party there though.

Also, I'm CFBC myself but its daft to put down having children as just a 'lifestyle choice'. People like me and you would up the proverbial creek in our old age if there weren't enough women willing to do it despite the massively detrimental effects on their careers and their sleep patterns!

Very well said Person-one! If an employer grants part time work to a returning women from maternity leave, it is the employers responsibility to ensure that the extra work load is sufficiently covered, not the returning women's fault!

I have returned to my job part time and luckily have a very supportive boss and another member of staff was taken on to cover the days I have off. I received extra on top of SMP and didn't have to pay any back.

Good luck in asking for part time hours.

heartbreak_star

I totally understand not everyone's as jaded as me - too many women took the proverbial out of me in too many workplaces. I couldn't have Christmas off when my dad was dying as "You don't need Christmas off, you don't have kids. Have some thought for parents, will you?". I had to work longer hours so women could potter off to parents' evenings and dump their work on me because "You don't have kids, so why do you need to be at home?"

I think it all just built up into my current state of rage as in my last two workplaces if women with kids said jump, the company said how high? My current place is a lot better, there's more structure and compromise, so I'm mellowing out a bit

I definitely think asking earlier is better though - and even more so if you could put someone forward to jobshare with you. Go in as prepared as you can and be willing to compromise...you'll get more by being nice but firm than being demanding. If you leave it too late it might get refused.

Not sure about paying any maternity pay back - I'm sure they'll sharp let you know if you have to!

HBS x

Person_one

That sounds like a sh!tty boss, I'd redirect your anger there!

I'm sorry about your dad. X

heartbreak_star

Thanks It was a few years ago we lost him, but it still hurts

Thankfully my current workplace is so much better than the last ones!

I did mention the roughshod treatment of women without kids (and men too, now I think on) in my exit interview at the last place, so hopefully they've re-examined their policies and come up with something a bit fairer.

HBS x

lowlitmemory

For your take-home pay, try https://www.listentotaxman.com - so if e.g. you earn £20k for a 5-day week and you want to drop to 2.5 days, then put £10k in with your circumstances and it will tell you what your take-home pay should be.

flutterby_lil

I doubt you would have to pay your maternity pay back, as it is normall yonly when you don't return at all.

I have been back about 5 weeks after maternity leave and I too have reduced my hours to 28, and have further asked to reduce it buy another half day. I am really struglling to balance things with having a 4 years old demanding boy who misses mummy and a baby.

Good luck with your request, I work in a school and my request was met by anger......so much for flexible working and a good work life balance!

Savvy_Sue

Check what your maternity pay policy says about the timings, I think the statutory 'thing' is that you have to state 8 weeks in advance if you're NOT coming back on the anticipated date (ie if you're taking AML), so I'd give at least that much time for your request.

I think you'll find some info on the DWP website about what you need to put into your request.

Also note that if they agree to the request, you won't automatically be able to go back to full-time in the future. You can ask for a change once a year, and they can decline it for business reasons.

Peanut2013

I'm returning to work in October from Maternity leave

I asked to go part time and my boss is thrilled. Lol. They've wanted to cut down the hours worked in our department as we are now overstaffed due to losing a chuck of work BUT didn't want to make us redundant or anything. This was his perfect solution

Ill be going down to 2 days a week and am thrilled!!

Oh and I won't have to pay anything back

You might not have to pay tax, I won't. With the new allowance being £9k I will be under this

kj*daisy

janninew wrote: »

Very well said Person-one! If an employer grants part time work to a returning women from maternity leave, it is the employers responsibility to ensure that the extra work load is sufficiently covered, not the returning women's fault!

I have returned to my job part time and luckily have a very supportive boss and another member of staff was taken on to cover the days I have off. I received extra on top of SMP and didn't have to pay any back.

Good luck in asking for part time hours.

People resenting the returning part timer also should remember that you are then only paid a proportion of your salary, so are only paid to be there 3 days a week, so if the employer pushes the extra work onto other employees then it's the employer taking the pee, not the part timer.
I work part time and it was advertised as a part time post and therefore couldn't work full time even if I wanted too, doesn't stop people having a dig occasionally.

Ask, if they say no, return full time for just long enough not to have to pay anything back, then leave. Good luck.

cpoir

Will you have accrued any annual leave while you have been off? Some companies are very good with flexible working e.g. The NHS. I took 12 months off and then spent the first few months back taking 2 days a week as leave (technically doing part time while still being paid FT). Then because it was working well for me (which I already knew it would) I put in the official request to reduce my hours. I had 2 others colleagues in exactly the same position and none of us were turned down. I think it's much harder to up your hours than reduce them. At the end of the day you're saving them money. Also is it possible for you to work from home 1 day? Don't know what type of job you're in...