My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

Work

Has anyone actively reduced grade/responsibilities at work ?

5 replies

rookiemater · 15/06/2010 19:13

Currently I work 4 days a week in a fairly demanding job. We have one DS age 4, DH is a contractor and his current contract has long hours and a lot of weekend working.

I have had some health issues over the last 18 mths as well which will be ongoing.

I have been finding it increasingly difficult to cope at work and feel I am underperforming although my boss has confirmed that my performance meets expectations.

I do tend to over worry about things and take them personally, plus with the one day off it's hard to keep on top of things.

I had put in a request to reduce hours for DS starting preschool nursery so I could pick him up a couple of days as well as maintain my day off and then work a couple of longer days.But then I thought that this might be even harder as trying to cram the work into even less hours would be impossible and by the time DH is home in the evenings I don't have the inclination to log on in after DS is in bed ( besides I have mumsnetting to do).

So I discussed reducing grade and to me it seems like it might be a good solution as I maintain my benefits but salary would either be frozen or reduced, but hopefully my stress levels would as well so everything would become more manageable.

Sorry for long rambly post. Has anyone done this, or have any thoughts about it ?

OP posts:
Report
henstooth · 15/06/2010 21:22

Would be really interested to hear whether anyone has done this - I'm working FT in a demanding role (major IT project) but would love to reduce to a 4 day week. Really can't see that happening at my current grade which is quite senior as nobody at my grade does anything other than long hours.

I mentioned to HR that I would like to voluntarily demote myself for a couple of years but they seemed to think that showed that the company couldn't offer parents flexibility so weren't keen, in case it was seen that I was 'pressured' into taking lower grade job, even though that is in fact the reality in the City!

I really can't see an alternative as it's hard for an overstretched team to accept one person working reduced hours when everyone else is doing 50-60 hours and being paid for 37-40..if anyone has an answer let us know :-)

I think companies need to think more flexibly in terms of their employees career paths i.e. some people may want to downshift for a couple of years for family/ carer reasons and should be able to do it....

Report
rookiemater · 16/06/2010 07:33

Oh well henstooth, doesn't look like there are many takers !

Having slept on it overnight, I do think it's the way for me to go as I can't continue as I am and I don't want to give up work altogether.

I think back to how I was before DS and the fact is I was able to work extra hours, plus
I could focus without keeping half an eye all the time on child care arrangements, hoping that DS is happy and giving him as much time when I am not at work as possible, plus making sure the house doesn't turn into a complete tip. DH works 10-12 hour days and some weekends so it is difficult for him to contribute.

I just want to be able to go in in the morning, do my job then leave at the end of the day without the constant worrying about could I have done I better job, should I be working extra hours at home.

I do have concerns, will I still be doing my old job but at less salary because they know I have the skill set, but I will need to work those out with my current boss to ensure this is not the case.

OP posts:
Report
Claireodon · 17/06/2010 19:07

Just wanted to say I have been in the same boat although I didn't actually go for demotion (but I did look into it). I have a very stressful job and after dc2 I wasn't well and began to find it increasingly difficult to cope with the pressure. I worked 3 days a week at the time and felt I couldn't do the job properly. That was partly because I ended up bearing the brunt of all childcare arrangements, taking time off when kids were sick, etc because dh was the "main earner". I struggled on for a while but ended up taking a career break and childminding from home for much less money. I stayed at home with dcs for a year before returning to work full time when dc2 was almost 3. I am so glad I took the break because I got time to focus on my dcs. I got myself fit and healthy and was ready to return when I did go back. I now find that working f/t is much easier careerwise although I miss the dcs but they are in school and nursery and really happy so it works for us. I also ensure that dh bears more responsibility for childcare because you can't do everything on your own.

Report
twowheels · 17/06/2010 20:11

Hi, I've reduced responsibilities at work, due to finding it too hard juggling work demands, DD Poor health and me having to be the one to look after her when ill (she's 8 and had missed a lot of school and often I was called from work to collect her from school).

I now work 15 hours a week instead of 30 hours and have much less responsibility.

It takes some getting used to and I still have pangs of getting used to it, but overall it works for me at the moment, I cant' see it changing soon.

I do feel envious of other mums who work full time or near to full time and who seem to find it no effort, and who are moving ahead in their careers but I accept for now, this is what I need to do.

Report
rookiemater · 17/06/2010 20:41

Thanks claireodon and twowheels.

It would be lovely to have a career break and I actually think that would be the absolute best option for me, but if I did that then I would probably lose my final salary pension & work benefits and end up going back at a lower grade than the one I will be going down to.

I have taken the plunge now and spoken to my boss and I hope the decision is right. I can't be all things to all people and I need to try to focus my energies in the right directions.

Thanks to those who responded.

OP posts:
Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.