Returned to work but am I being pushed out?

[scotsmuminlondon]

Hello, I wonder if anyone has any advice for me on this subject?

I've recently returned to work part time, after 10 months mat leave. I am a Manager in a large corporate organisation and was involved in significant projects until 2 weeks before I gave birth. I am the only women in my team and work alongside 2 other male managers. I was really happy to return to work 3 days per week (salary pro rata) even though I knew I would often have to work at home in evening / days off to deal with the workload. I have been back a few weeks now and it's as if I'm not really there. I've been given a couple of small fairly minor tasks and am being left out of major projects and meetings. I've tried to get more involved in projects, but not having great success. The company is going through a lot of restructuring at the moment and I'm starting to think that my boss hopes I'll either leave or he will turn around and say I'm not adding anything to the team, so make me redundant. I now feel stupid for thinking I could return to my old job and everything would be the same.


Any views?

[AllarmBells]

Hi scotsmum

As they are going through restructuring, I get the feeling they are probably just not sure what to do with you, they are used to you not being there, and they aren't sure how its going to work with your part time hours.

Going back to work is such a weird time, and yes things are often very different when you get back.

Not knowing anyone involved, I would give them the benefit of the doubt for now, and assume they just haven't thought much about you. I wouldn't assume they are out to get you, a few weeks is a very short time.

Could you decide on one of the major projects, the one that you could deliver most value to, and insist on being involved? Once you are involved in something, the part-time thing will raise its head "how can you do this if you are only in 3 days a week" etc and you'll be able to allay their concerns with whatever you plan to do ("I'll be picking up emails once a day") or whatever. (Not that I'm recommending you do this because personally I think its outrageous when companies pay 3 days and get more out of people, usually women, but that's another thread :) But you did say you were planning to work a bit extra.) Once you've been involved in something, they will realise you are back, you are useful, and you'll start to be included once again. Hopefully

I have a colleage who doesn't work Fridays, and she NEVER mentions it in meetings, she just says "I'm not around at that time" if people suggest Friday calls or meetings. It does work well with clients - no-one is 100% available all the time. It gives the impression of being busy and sought after, rather than - shock horror - having other commitments than work. Might be worth considering?

Good luck with it and I hope things improve.

[scotsmuminlondon]

Thanks Allarmbells, it's good to have some impartial advice, perhaps I am being a bit oversensitive... You're right about how to deal with the fact I don't work Thursday/Fridays. I have to train myself to stop saying "I only work Mon-Wed", so I'll take your collegaues tip on board! I'll def take your advice and give it some more time too, hopefully it will get easier. Thanks again

[StillSquiffy]

I think most of us get that feeling when we go back - it takes a while to get back in the swing. I felt it for ages and when I finally asked my boss why I was being left out of things he told me he'd been trying to make my role a little lighter so that I could get back into it without getting too stressed!

[trixymalixy]

I found it really really difficult going back to work part time afte a year on maternity leave. I too felt pushed out as so much had changed. when i spoke to my manager about it like squiffy he was trying to lead me back into work gently.

the reality of it was also because I was part time, i did miss out on things because I physically wasn't there.

I ended up applying for a new role as it wasn't working for me in my old role.