Working Mums?

Mrs_A_2

I'm currently on maternity leave and trying to decide what I'd like to do upon my return to work. Before baby I worked 35 hours a week over 5 days.

I'd love to go back just 3 days, but can't see it being accepted and I think they'd question my commitment etc.

So half of me thinks I should just go for a happy medium, slap bang in the middle of what I want, and what they probably want - and ask for four days.

What would you do? Anyone been in similar situation? Anyone have a baby and work four days, how do you find it? I'm fortunate that I've rolled over a few holidays from this year so should be able to use a day to take a days annual leave every other week next year.

double_mummy

can you afford to take the pay drop if you go down to 3 days?
have you discussed it with them as you are making a lot of presumptions here
remember that if you reduce your hours you also reduce your holiday entitlement

Mrs_A_2

Yes can afford it.

I haven't discussed it as yet.

freebiequennie

I have just stopped for second lot mat leave first is 4yrs old.

I went back on contract 4 days 30hrs 8-4 with half hr lunch I did however for first 15weeks have Fridays as annual leave so was being paid 4days n working 3. Baby was 9mths when I went back so a yr old by time I was doing 4 days we used childminder 3 days n then he started nursery for that 1 day.

4 days was nice I had a Mon off I would have preferred 3 days but we couldn't afford that.

In June this yr I got a promotion for a full time 37.5hr job but negotiated to 32hrs so still did 4 days but did 8-4.30 with half hr lunch.

Could you offer

1. Working full time over 4 days or slightly less than full time over 4 days or even 27-30hrs over 3days if husband can help with child care drop offs n picks up.

2. Only have half hr lunch I never ever took a full lunch break anyway.

Have a number of options to put forward makes them think you really want it to work for them n you.

Goldiegirl

Could you find somebody at your workplace who also wants to drop their hours, you could then jointly approach your employer and propose a job share.


I've been doing a job share for nearly five years (me two days a week the other person 3 days a week) and it has worked very well - it just needs good communication to do the 'hand-over'

freebiequennie

If you are going back before a yr you will have to give them notice I had to give 8weeks notice before returning n put my proposal in an e-mail at the same time.

Spendless

Yes, 14+ years ago my then workplace did not have anything other than f-time workers who were in the office Mon-Fri 8.30 - 5pm. This is very common where I live even now, to not have part-time office staff in private sector jobs. Where I work now, is the same, there are only f-time workers. I have a casual contract there (as and when required for holidays and absences) for this reason as it's the closest 'part-time' work I could find.

Back when eldest was born, the childcare bill for him all week was equivalent to net wage I was taking home. There wasn't the help with childcare costs back then and it wouldn't have made any difference whose wage packet the childcare fees came out of, the net result was the same to our household. I reigned and some months late, found an evening/weekend job in a shop instead, when hubby could watch the baby.

Mrs_A_2

Thanks all.

Freebiequeenie - Yes, have been thinking of numerous scenarios! My main thing is I really don't want to do 5 days. So have thought of various ways around it. How do you find 4 days? I've heard that you can end up being expected to do the same amount of work as if you were working full time still? I could look at doing completely compressed full time hours into 4 days but I think it would be tough as baby would probably be in bed when I left / got home!

Goldiegirl - I'm the only person in my company who does my role.

gettingtheresometime

Firstly do you have a job that could cope with you only working 3 days?

Have you thought of potential issues for the business so that you can think of potential solutions....and whilst I appreciate it isn't your place to come up with solutions it may be that if you say I appreciate x will be a problem but here's a solution then they may look at the proposal more favourably.

Also before you resign would you have to pay any of your maternity pay back?

splishsplash

ETA deleted, I think I've got my facts wrong... sorry

Mrs_A_2

Gettingtheresometime - There are ways it could work.

I won't resign. If I have to go back full time then I will.