Working Mum - Request unrealistic or realistic option?

sweaty_betty

I did the same as lush, went from 37 hours over 5 days to 30 hours over 4 days. The income drop was manageable and I'm one of the lucky ones that hasn't ended up doing 5 days worth of work in 4.

If its a big company and there are others who work part time, it's trickier for them to turn you down, as long as you submit the request formally.

However, if you want 3 days, ask for them. You can only submit one flexible working request every 12 months, so it's worth asking for exactly what you want in order to start negotiations (but keep in the back of your mind the limit you want to stick to -eg 4 days max)

unlikelyheroine

Mrs_A wrote: »

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.

Re your last point about using holidays in the way you describe, bear in mind that your employer may not want you to use your holidays in this way and may not allow you to take the holidays exactly when you want them. Absences of a day here and there are considered "disruptive" by some employers, who would rather employees were off in one or two week blocks as this can sometimes be easier to manage in terms of cover.