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Original poster

How many hours did you work after going back from maternity leave?

623 replies

twoorthreeorfour · 26/07/2025 20:19

My contract is changing to 3 days, 22.5 hours. I wondered what other people do. If you reduced your hours, at what point did you go full time again?

OP posts:
HollyBough · 26/07/2025 20:22

Back FT immediately.

LuckyNumberFive · 26/07/2025 20:24

Also back to full time straight off that bat.

ooooohlala · 26/07/2025 20:26

Also full time.

K0OLA1D · 26/07/2025 20:27

Full time both times.

ThomasinaHoskins · 26/07/2025 20:28

I returned 4 days per week when DD was 10 months old. I went back to full time hours last September when she started school.

GameOfJones · 26/07/2025 20:28

I did four days a week and then after having DD2 I dropped to three days a week. I am still on the same pattern and they're both now in primary school.

Drivingmissrangey · 26/07/2025 20:29

I’ve always worked FT.

ru53 · 26/07/2025 20:33

I’ve done 4 days a week for the past year and about to go on mat leave again. I genuinely feel like I get the same amount of work done but get paid less. So my boss is happy! Would love the extra money but I have found that extra day off so valuable for my wellbeing so will be hard to go back full time. I think I will probably go up to 5 days when they start school.

Parker231 · 26/07/2025 20:35

Six months maternity leave and then returned full time

LondonLady1980 · 26/07/2025 20:37

I went back to 37.5 hours, but as I was a nurse it still only meant working 3 days out of 7.

However, when I had my second baby I did then drop my hours to 25 a week (working 2 days out of 7).

mynameiscalypso · 26/07/2025 20:39

I did 4 days per week until DS started school, then O moved to full time albeit with an early finish one day a week.

Smithson85 · 26/07/2025 20:44

3 days full time. Went up to 4 days when DC started reception. Have found this perfect especially as work are fine with us swapping non-working days for inset days, sports days etc

Baby26 · 26/07/2025 20:45

I went to 22.5 hours after a year of maternity leave. This was 3 full days of work a week (plus some weekends, so I do actually work more than 22.5 hours some weeks!). My son is now 3 and I've no plans to return full time, especially as I already do more than my hours. If I was to go back to full time i would be working more than 37.5 hours (as we have mandatory overtime we must do on top of this), which just doesn't suit me as a parent now. It was fine pre-children.

Iwantanhouseelf · 26/07/2025 20:49

Full time after 7 months with DS1 as I was the main earner. With DS2, 22.5 hours ( 3 and 1/2 days) using family for childcare 2 of the days and DH at the weekend. Then changed jobs to weekdays but term time only. Now they are older and can look after themselves, back to full time.

BigBurrata · 26/07/2025 20:50

3 days, then changed to 4 days when DC started secondary

DanceMumTaxi · 26/07/2025 20:51

Went back 3 days a week, but as a teacher it definitely wasn’t a clocking in/out sort of job and I did work on my days off. But it meant I got weekends back.

Wynter25 · 26/07/2025 20:51

Part time and be going back part time. Want to watch my kids grow up. Will do 16hrs

isitme111 · 26/07/2025 20:53

18.75 hours

FeelinTwentySixPointTwo · 26/07/2025 20:54

Want to watch my kids grow up

Oh here we go. I'm sure we all want to watch our kids grow up, but lots of us don't have the luxury of being able to afford to go part time.

Like most others on this thread, I went back full time after both my maternity leaves.

4pmwinetimebebeh · 26/07/2025 20:56

Went back 30 hours a week after child 1. Back 22.5 hours a week after child 2, up to 30 hours again after a while. Back down to 22.5 and currently applying to go term time only. Appreciate it’s a massive privilege to work part time but I take the hit financially for the time with the kids!

Jetsmummy123 · 26/07/2025 20:56

Down from 37 hours to 30 hours after DS1 after 10 months mat leave. Down from 30 to 26 hours after DS2 following 11 months mat leave. Off with DD1 now and plan on taking 13 months off leave, then going back 26 hours but putting back up to 30 hours after a few months/year. Might go full time when youngest at school but don’t really like my job so maybe not….

Tisfortired · 26/07/2025 20:56

I went back full time after DC1 and carried on FT until I went back after DC2 9 years later when I reduced my hours to 22 hours over 3 days. DC2 is now 2.5 and I’m pregnant with DC3 and planning on keeping my hours the same.

I feel very fortunate to have the option to halve my working hours and find the balance great for family life - I am planning to go back FT when the youngest two are both in school.

Wynter25 · 26/07/2025 20:59

4pmwinetimebebeh · 26/07/2025 20:56

Went back 30 hours a week after child 1. Back 22.5 hours a week after child 2, up to 30 hours again after a while. Back down to 22.5 and currently applying to go term time only. Appreciate it’s a massive privilege to work part time but I take the hit financially for the time with the kids!

Same here. I can't afford to do it but I'm good with money. Only ever spend it on them. Not bothered about me. I wasn't having a dig at anyone. Everyone's situation is different. I just refuse to miss any time with them.

You only get one chance and will never get the time back and you're just a number in a job.

DeliciouslyBaked · 26/07/2025 20:59

With DD1, i went back 22hrs for 6months and then back to FT when she was around 15months old. This was because we knew we wanted more than one DC and i wanted to be earning at a FT level for a second mat leave.

After DD2, I went back down to 22hrs and am hoping to stay there until she gets to school. Then I'll probably go up to 4days or FT compressed hours.

Its really hard - im senior management (not SLT though) and i do feel under pressure. But 75% of our team are not FT so that makes it easier as the culture supports it.

NotMeekNotObedient · 26/07/2025 21:03

I do 3 days a week and love it. I've been doing that for three years since my return to work. Pregnant again so will continue probably until baby no. 2 starts school. I then hope to move jobs (definitely could be getting better pay elsewhere, despite being promoted since my return and hopefully again on return from mat leave), probably up to 4 days. Working 5 days isn't really worth it on my salary and I will still get to do school pickup once a week, sports days and be around that little bit more. Possibly start my own side hustle business which will fill a few day time hours on my non-working day (probably Fridays), alongside me actually getting a rest and doing some housework! Balance is important to me. I do want it all (career, passion, family time and rest!).