Following on from the flexible working thread, did ging part time negatively affect your opportunities for promotion?

[emskaboo]

I'll be returning part time after maternity leave and I know that this effectively puts paid to any career progression, in the nine months I've been on mat leave there hasnt been a single post at the local authority I work for at my level or above which is part time. To do a job share I'd have to find someone who wanted to do one with me and although this may be possible it would be hard! What's your experience/feeling on this?

[deanychip]

I specified the hours thta i was abe to do in my interview for promotion and they agreed.

I could still gain further promotion and work the hours i work.

Think i will have a fight on my hands for that though.

My job share pal, has handed her notice in as she just cant juggle child care and work, so i am now alone. Luckily its ok so far, but watch this space....

[PussinJimmyChoos]

imo, if you work part time or jobshare, you can kiss your career goodbye...having said that though, I decide to choose motherhood over a career and so I'm ok with it not getting me anywhere as that was my outlook to start with.

The majority of bosses hate part-timers or jobsharers with a passion. They maybe all ooh look at our lovely shiny policy on work life balance etc but what they spout to keep HR smiley and what they really feel, are too different things!

[PussinJimmyChoos]

two rather!

[emskaboo]

Yeah Puss that is definitely my impression too!

[PussinJimmyChoos]

I just read that back...sounded rather negative, I do apologise but tbh, I've found the whole being back at work part time thing quite hard.

I'm sure its lovely if you have a family friendly work place/boss (SHOUT TO MNET -EMPLOY ME! I'm sure you need someone deaf on your team to meet the DDA requirements or er...well, something legal...) but my boss is bleughhhhh despite having a family of his own and its kind of coloured my outlook.

The last department manager was fab btw - she actually jumped up in a meeting once and said you know, we don't have term time workers yet! I'd love a term time worker as she was that keen to promote all the flexible/work life balance thing and she was bloody brilliant!

[squiffy]

I work 4 days a week and I have been promoted since, and have had big payrises as well, so it can be done.

Also I have just handed in my MSc dissertation on.... flexible working and the family friendly 'backlash'. My research was limited, but I was quite surprised...... for those people who get flexi working because the company desperately doesn't want to lose them (rather than those who get it because it is company policy or whatever), promotional opportunities are not curtailed. I was really dubious when the first senior director/partner level guy told me this, but then the next said it, and the next...(and they weren't doing it to be politically correct: your hair really would stand on end if you heard some of the other stuff they said)..

[countrylover]

I've been back at work part-time for nearly two years since the birth of my DS and not only have I not been promoted or had any pay rises but I've actually been demoted!

I'm still on the same pay but I do a job a junior with a years experience could do with their eyes closed.

I've mentioned job share and my boss looked at me as if I was insane.

Of course I could go to HR blah, blah, blah but what's the point. I'm pregnant again and I just want my maternity pay and I'm certainly not coming back this time.

Unfortunately being a working mum does (for me at least) mean my career has not only stalled, it's gone backwards.

[PrimulaVeris]

Yes

Which is why I've got time to Mnet at work at this very moment

[hana]

absolutely
but I only work 2 days a week and would be quite difficult to hold a post with more responsibility on just 2 days. I see colleagues who started after me scrambling up the ladder and doing well. Thinking sometimes that should be me! But not now - timing is all wrong and 2 days suits me just fine. But sill envious/sad/jealous at times.