Job share thoughts

[worriedmummy32]

I returned to work 5 months ago after a year off on maternity leave. I returned for 3 days a week on a job share - thinking it would give me the right balance, after 6 months though it has become clear that its not working, my job involves projects on short timelines, which is made very difficult by not being in the office at least 4 days a week. I feel like my options are to ask for an extra day a week which I could work from home, or to leave all together and find something less stressful, I don't know what the right answer is, I love spending my days at home with my little boy but equally I like getting out of the house and the money makes our life much easier, has anyone experienced a similar situation? What would you do?

[flowery]

What does your job share partner think about how it's working? If it's short timelines for projects, is the issue perhaps not enough handover between the two of you? Do you have any crossover time?

[petalunicorn]

It sounds like you and the job share person run separate projects. Can you work together better?

I run projects part time, but I make myself available 5 days a week for calls and prearranged meetings, so some weeks I work my contracted hours over 5 days, some weeks over 2 long days. Could that work for you? I find the pros outweigh the cons in that I don't come into chaos after my days off, it's flexibility working both ways. It needs a decent amount of self discipline though and work and home life become mingled (I have had my child at a meeting before), I understand some people wouldn't like that.