What am I supposed to do?

[itmightbe]

currently coming to the end of mat leave and my employer is insisting me back full time, this is just not possible or what I want now. I would be relying on family/grandparent childcare (which I know I’m super lucky to have) but I can’t expect this and wouldn’t ask this for 40 hours a week. We won’t be eligible for funded hours yet.

I was job hunting before I found out I was pregnant so I’m not invested in the job, but it was family friendly and allowed me to wfh when needed and do school pick ups/assemblies/sports days etc.

I would love to just be a sahm, but we need some extra cash! So what do I do? Quit my job and find a supermarket job or something? Any bright Mumsnet help would be appreciated. Please don’t be too harsh, I’ve already had a little cry over the whole situation.

Supermarket jobs are like rocking horse poo and rarely exist unless you want 4 hours guaranteed on a Saturday night then be at thier beck and call on the end of a telephone ready to work 2 hours here and 4 hours there at very short notice.

Maybe look for a part time or job share role somewhere relatively local, but forget a Supermarket role.

You keep your job and go back, because it’s your job and they have given you mat leave. Maybe pay for childcare for some of the days not to burden the grandparents too fully. And you look for another job that pays enough that suits you more.

or you quit and become a SAHM but you say you can’t afford that? Also you need to consider your financial future very very carefully if you make that choice anyway. Not something I’d ever recommend. It doesn’t really make for much financial freedom or from a risk perspective for any family anymore to have a single salary plus you could be totally fucked if your marriage breaks down. And if that’s the case then it’s not something you should ever do even in a good marriage.

Flexible working request! My work were making things difficult for me but after I submitted a formal flexible working request I was permitted to work my preferred hours around childcare. Best of luck to you ✨

You need to make a request for 'Flexible Working' based on this is a return to work following maternity leave and that you have a requirement to arrange childcare.

They cannot 'insist' you return full-time.

Ask for a copies of the following policies and procedures:
Maternity Leave
Flexible Working
Absence/Attendance Management

Have you had 9 or 12 months maternity leave?
You should also check your annual leave entitlement has been taken up to date.

I would persist as long as possible there, while looking for another position; if you prefer to change jobs anyway.

A flexible working request can be refused, mine was! (I left and was a SAHM for a while, which was difficult financially, but just had to manage.)

phone acas they are very good and help you to put forward a good request. Flexible hours wfh etc. reduced hours will depend on business need. Is anyone else working part time have they set a precedent. Can you change your role there to accommodate?

Not an employment lawyer, but pretty sure there is no obligation to allow an employee to return on a part-time basis if she was full-time when she went on mat leave.

You keep looking for alternate jobs op, I’m sorry and either pay for child care or ask family to step in for the 40 hours,

Go back and then look for other work is money is tight.