To be very p****d off that I am about to be demoted for being part-time?

[Cloudhopper]

I have just come back from maternity leave, and am currently in a senior management position. The organisation I work for is going through big structural changes which are going to mean redundancies.

I have two children in tax-free childcare in the workplace nursery, which pretty much halves my childcare bill. It means I actually earn money even with two children.

In a restructure at work, I am being asked to take a job which is the same level as one I did 6 years ago when I first joined the organisation. It won't be a pay cut (yet), but it is definitely a demotion. It is true that I could do the job standing on my head, but my CV is going to look appalling. And having recruited many, many staff in my career, I know that if I were looking at my CV as it will look in a year's time, I would think it looks very odd.

I really need some advice on the decision.

It comes back to the fact that I am now part time. If I apply for other jobs in my field, I would have to go full time. If I retain my part-time job, I get to spend quality time and a decent life with my two little girls (1yo and 3yo). The difference in childcare costs means that financially I would be working full time for no more money than I currently earn part time. But if I do this, my long term career is going to go completely down the tubes. I feel like all the things I hoped I coudl achieve in my life will go up in smoke.

I am totally unable to weigh up the short term pain against long term gain, or whether I just need to reassess what life is all about and get on with the demoted job.

Please those who like to gloat over part timers go easy on me. I know full well that this is about being part-time. I have been told that I just can't hold down a senior position part-time, and that I have got the ability to do an even more senior job if I just went full time. I think that is going to have to mean leaving where I currently work and starting afresh.

Yes, ECATLM & SM I now have a plan. I just needed to sort out my thoughts.

Buckle down, work very hard and try to impress in the short term. I'm already doing this because I fancied a stab at my boss's job.

Make it well known that I am thinking of going 4 days again.

Refuse to move jobs and stay in my current job while applying for other jobs. I have got a few contacts and other people I have worked for in other similar organisations, so I can possibly pick something up quite easily.

If necessary, take a redundancy package if they decide my job has to go. I would get in the region of 20k I think, so that is worth a bit of stress, especially if I want to leave after this anyway.

I think I am just grieving the change. I thought I was sorted out for a couple of years with my cheap childcare and cushy job. Just goes to show that life never really works out the way you thought. Who knows in a year's time I may look back and be thankful that this was the catalyst to moving

Sounds like a good plan.

And the redundancy as catalyst thing really does seem to happen quite a lot to people I know. But that's easy for someone who hasn't been through it to say, really. Good luck.

AFAIK, if they are restructuring, they need to find you a role that is equal in status and pay. Check out the DTI website, or the EOC website.

Does sound a bit like you are being shafted on the basis of working part time.

Can't offer much help in the legal side of the matter but perhaps, about the other, part I may...

There was a time in my life when I was a successful professional and my life revolved around work. I loved my job dearly. Then, personal circumstances forced me to leave it and I mourned it for years. Although I didn't just sit to wait for something to come, I continued training and got an extra pg degree.

Then, I took this part-time job that is well below my capabilities and after a year I have found that:

• I'm no longer embarrassed of saying what I do for a living (not because it was an embarrasing job but because I'm overqualified for it)

• It is great to leave the office and forget I have a job. It doesn't have the same responsability but neither the amount of stress. Nobody will die or get sacked if I do something wrong...

• The pay may not be as good but I get so much free time to spend with my son, to meet for lunch with friends, to rest a bit and to have my own little projects. We have been to 7 countries just in the last year and I still got some annual leave time left.

• And finally... they will up my hours in a couple of months and... I'm devastated! A good standard of living doesn't always is attached to senior positions. It all depends on what your priorities are (having said that, after this year working part time, mine are now placed in different things

Not helping really, am I?

i think it's lack of creative thinking that results in teh senior manager must always be available thing. yes someone needs to be available to deal with the unplanned but why does it have to be the same person? senior managers get to go on holiday without the office falling apart.

No chandra - you have helped. You see my whole dilemma is between life and work. Do I take the demotion and have a life or do I follow my 'heart' and pursue my career? Financially there is no hope for us anyway. Even if I earned twice the amount I do now, the childcare bill would reduce it so much that our standard of living would remain the same. We have also accepted that we will never own a house round here, so there is little point earning more money for its own sake.

I know that these things go around and come around, and I know that no-one really cares what I do for a living other than me.

But I suppose I have never quite given up the dream that I can carry on a successful career and still see my children.

Anyway, I had better go to bed too, because I am working an extra morning tomorrow to attend a meeting.

I know what you mean hatwoman. In fact my experience of senior people is that they are nearly always in some meeting or other and can't be contacted for the life of you. So the argument that you need to be on tap all day every day is a fallacy.

Actually I have said I don't mind being contactable at all times on my days off. They never contact me and they just allow the resentment to bubble away.

I don't know. Part of me finds it very hard to not take it personally and decide that maybe I am just really crap at my job. There is always the possibility that they are trying to shaft me because my face doesn't fit any more. It would be a shock based on previous feedback, but then people hate confronting issues face to face.

sounds like a good plan and hope you're feeling more positive this morning. unfortunately it seems working mothers will always be torn between job and children - but at the very least we can challenge it when other people aren't helping! good luck and let us know how you get on. at least there is a support network here for you if not at work!

Cloudhopper, HANG IN THERE! My workplace turned sour during my maternity leave and I found it really hard to cope with, feeling it was a reflection on me as a person and as a professional. In fact it was just a bit of a lazy manager looking to cut corners!

If you want legal advice I used a FAB solicitor, who made me feel good about myself and got me some money.....

Good luck. And when things get tough at work pull up a mental pic of the kids doing something gorgeous - its good armour!

Oh, its late and I missed a bit.

Its not because your face doesnt fit or you are crap. Please please dont think that. I would bet my kids easter eggs it is because you have a lazy senior manager who just cant be bothered to make it work - just like Hatwoman said.

thanks eliselady. i have to say that armed with the confidence that mners have given me on this thread, I have loads of ideas as to how to take this on.

Firstly I am going to say that although the job sounds interesting, it is unfortunately below my current level of skill and experience. Yes I could do a good job of it, but it is too far a step back for me and would damage my CV.

Then I am going to say that I think I can offer the organisation a lot more in a more senior position, and I think I can offer the leadership that has been so badly missing for the past year.

Finally I am going to add that I don't want to pretend I am happy with this proposal and then end up leaving in 6 months time, without telling them why. THe likely outcome if I do accept the post.

No victim mindset here any more.

Cloudhopper - don't think I have anything to add in terms of advice , but just to say, you sound as though you've really thought this all through and have a very balanced approach to it. I'm sure with this mindset, whatever decision you make, things will turn out fine, because having the ability to see both sides is half the battle. You have obviously weighed up the pros and cons of your choices. I do think, as a generalisation, it can be hard as the employee to see all the aspects of the employers viewpoint. I know a few people who have requested P/T work, and been turned down and been quite upset because from their persepctive there was no reason why their job couldn't be P/T. However speaking from a management viewpoint, there definitely were legitimate reasons why P/T would impact negatively on the institution, either through affecting other peoples roles or in some other way.

I haven't really got much constructive to add, but as someone who faced a dilemma when returning from maternity leave and ended up doing more days than I wanted to so I wouldn't lose the seniority that I had spent my entire career working towards, I really empathise with you.

As others have said you sound like a really balanced reasonable person, and from personal experience, those qualities alone say that you are a good project manager.

I really don't understand why 4 days a week won't work. In our organisation some very senior directors do a compressed 4 day week and its absolutely fine, its a question of mindset over the reality of what needs done.

Keep going, you will find the compromise you need, we are all rooting for you.

Could your husband go part time then so that at least one of you gets the time with the children needed?
I think your posts below are all very sensible - reject the proposed demotion and consider applying for the full time role particularly as you have a very rare and helpful set up of subsidised childcare on site for the 1 and 3 year olds. Legally you might be protected but sometimes that isn't the key issue in protecting a career and a reputation in an industry.

As a pro full time worker I think you need to consider that in less than 4 years' time the children will be at school all day long at least until 3 anyway and that as they get beyond 10 or 11 they won't want to spend huge chunks of time with their parents and you might always regret losing the career advantage you have and the career you seem to enjoy.

From: www.dti.gov.uk/employment/workandfamilies/part-time/page12080.html

"Part-Time Work

The Part-time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000 introduced new rights for part-time workers. The regulations ensure that part-time workers are not treated less favourably in their contractual terms and conditions than comparable full-timers unless it is objectively justified.

This means part-timers are entitled, for example, to:

• the same hourly rate of pay,
• the same access to company pension schemes,
• the same entitlements to annual leave and maternity/parental leave on a pro rata basis,
• the same entitlement to contractual sick pay, and
• no less favourable treatment in access to training.

Two amendments to the Regulations came into force on 1 October 2002. These cover Comparators (Regulation 2) and Access to Occupational Pension Scheme (Regulation 8(8)).

If you are an employer you may also wish to visit the Business Link website, which provides practical advice for business.

If you are an employee please refer to the Directgov website which has information on all employment rights including work and families.

If you require further help Acas produce a number of useful guidance publications for both employers and employees. Acas also operate a helpline to answer employment questions: 08457 47 47 47 (open from 08.00 ? 18.00 Monday to Friday).

Links to these and other useful sources of information and guidance can be found on the right hand side of this page. "

Well, an update for all the kind people who gave me advice on this thread.

I did go to my boss and say exactly what I had planned. I explained that I felt my skills and experience were somewhat wasted in this more junior role. That I didn't just want to accept it without being honest, only to end up leaving the organisation 6 months down the line.

I then said I thought I could do my old boss's job - and in fact that I would really relish the challenge. I would go full time happily in a more senior role, but that if not, I was happier to be part-time in my current role. I did say that if I was unsuccessful in getting the job then I would put my energy into filling in any gaps in my CV that would mean I would get the job next time it came up.

Since then my boss's job has been advertised. There is nothing in the person spec or the job description that I couldn't do. However, I have decided that it is too big a step to make in one go. As well as that, I would still like to spend some time with the children while they are small (1yo and 3yo). So career will have to wait a bit longer.

Hopefully they won't disregard me and write me off. But in the meantime I will just concentrate on building up a good reputation and making sure that when the job comes up next time I am in a better position to go for it. Thanks for all your help.

Well, I know I am sort of talking to myself at this stage....But hey, this thread is now some kind of blog about the decision anyway, so who cares???

Well, I have decided to apply for the job. Really just because I know I would love to do it. I am watching people with far less experience and possibly fewer skills apply for jobs on my level.

I think it is time to take a risk - so I am going to go for the job. I love my girls, and I don't want to compromise their lives. But at the same time I feel that I would be short-changing us all if I pass up on this opportunity.

So here goes - nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Good luck, Cloudhopper!!! Let us know what happens.

(See, you're not talking to yourself!!!)

Yes, good luck CH. You've nothing to lose so go for it!

Good on you!

Good luck, CH, they are lucky to have you, you know!

Good luck.

It all sounds like a common consequence of having yougn children and being part-time. Good on you for staying strong.

Aw shucks - thank you for your words of encouragement! Was v surprised and cheered to see the responses.

So I have now applied. As I was filling in my CV and personal statement, I realised that I could do this job. Being part time and on maternity leave has really dented my confidence at work. There was a time when I would have applied and got this job without a doubt. I can't believe how strange life is.

I know this is a longshot, but I am pleased that I have applied. It gives me a chance to raise my profile a bit in the department. Maybe it will force my new boss to think about how much more I can offer than they seem to think at present.

So - a happy ending for now. Today dh is going into his boss to ask if he can work 4 days per week. Even if I don't get the job, I am going to go 4 days to increase the amount of responsibility I can do. Once again thanks for your support