Boss has arranged a 3 day week for me, now I want 2 and half

[Ali5]

My boss rang 2 weeks ago in reponse to a letter asking for 2 weeks parental leave on the end of my maternity leave. In the course of the conversation she asked if I'd thought about how many days a week I'd like to do on my return, I replied that at the moment I'd like to do 3.
At the weekend we were doing the maths and realised, with a bit of help from my mum, I can work 2½ days.
My boss has rung this morning to tell me that she has spoken to the governors and they have agreed to me doing 3 days. I was a bit surprised as I hadn't really formally asked her for 3 days, it was only a 'thinking of'. Oh, and she's asked me to do a post dated letter confirming my request (her secretary told her she needs a letter from me before amending my contract, which she should have had before discussing it with the governors)
I don't want to give the impression to my boss or the governors that I'm messing them around but now I know I can do 2½ days I really don't want to do 3!
Can anyone offer any advice on how I can handle this situation?

[bdey3]

Hi Ali5, I think you should just speak to your boss and tell her the truth. You don't say whether someone else will be covering the other days, but if they are, you could add that it will be much easier recruiting someone as job share for 2 1/2 than for 2 days.

[MrsSpoon]

There's just no pleasing some people!

[Ali5]

The problem is that according to my terms and conditions, she shouldn't have taken the formal step of talking to the governors without a letter from me. So in way, if I talk to her I'm telling her she doesn't know how to do her job - not the best thing to do when you're negotiating! She won't have to recruit someone to be my other half because of the role I do at work. I just need a way in with her that won't offend her, or pee the governors off. Part of me just wants to write to her and explain but I think this might be the coward's way out!

[fireflyfairy2]

I think it would seem to them you are messing them about

It's only half a day anyway

[lizziehoney]

I have to agre tbh. Sounds like ur emplpyer is bending over backwards to be flexible if u have already requested extra 2 weeks leave. You don't want to end up losing their goodwill. Whats the problem with another half day?

[Ali5]

Another half day is another half day I can spend with my ds - is that such a bad thing????
My point is that my boss is in the wrong for acting on an informal conversation when I made it quite clear I hadn't decided for certain how many days I wanted to work. I don't think I should be made to do something I don't want (certainly something that is in the best interests of my ds) because she cocked up.

[Blu]

I would say there has been a misunderstanding / miscommunication rather than she has 'cocked up' - and if you appraoch her in that spirit, rhather than 'she has cocked up' it will be much easier to deal with.

She took what you said in good faith...you didn't say 'but I'll let you know formally once I have worked it out in detail' or 'I'm not sure at the mooment, maybe 3, when do you need to know officially?' , she started the procedure to get it put in place, prematurely, but, it seems with your best interests at heart.

I think you should approach it most apologetically - 'I'm so sorry - I really hope this won't mess you about , but when I said 3 days I wasn't meaning that to be my last and final answer, I thought it was an informal coversation and would be sorted out be letter in due course. Would it be at all possible to agree on 2'5 days?'

[lizziehoney]

Yeah - totally agree with blu. Your employer sounds very reaonable - i mean the starting point of this seems to be the employer asking you how many days you'd like to work, which in many jobs would be a dream come true! You dont have an automatic right to anything other than the job you were originally employed to do. I would definitely show your appreciation that they are considering being flexible

[Ali5]

I spoke to her this morning, actually I spoke to her secretary first, who apologised for the way in which my boss had dealt with it as she knew my boss hadn't handled it correctly. When I spoke to my boss, I thought the apologetic route you suggested Blu was a good idea. I simply said that I was concerned she'd acted upon what I thought was an informal conversation and I was concerned that she had already spoken to the governors, as I didn't want them to feel I was messing them around. She apologised for having taken that step and told me not to worry.
As for her asking me if I wanted to come back part time, I had told her that I'd like to do part time before I started my maternity leave. Also, you are entitled to ask for reduced hours and they have to have a seriously good reason to say no.