To work part-time after maternity leave

[LadyRenoir]

Ok, so it's a bit of a 'give me advice pleae, posting for traffic'.

I had a baby 6 months ago and returning to work in a couple of weeks. I asked initially to go part time, but my request was refused initially based on the fact that they can't employ another person to cover for days I would not work, and the existing staff are pretty much overstretched. Fair enough. So I already made peace with working full time.
Situation changed, as now another colleague is going part time because of a long term illness, so they are happy to employ a new full time person, and have two part timers.
Which leaves me quite torn. On the one hand, FT gives us more money (even with extortionate childcare, I earn more than I would pay for nursery) and would leave us financially ever so slightly better off. Also, no way of knowing if I will ever (dramatic!) be able to go back FT in the same company, as it's sometimes hard, unless someone drops dead or retires or leaves (we don't have a high turnover of staff, and it's not very flexible at all as you can see), so an opportunity to go from part to full time or vice versa are not frequent.
On the other, I could have more time with the baby. Short, but sweet, more time to get him to do fun staff with me, more time to relax, less work, more time to meet with other people, less time stuck in traffic. A few extra mornings to have a lie in.

For people who went one way or another, how did that impact you and do you regret not doing it the other way round?

If you can afford the drop in wages I'd go part time personally but don't forget if you're planning more children it'll affect how much you get for mat pay etc

I initially went back part time and hated it. I was paying for full time childcare for a part time wage with pretty much the same workload. I did it for 6 months and another full time career.

• should say found another full time career.

@Finfintytint ouor childcare will be part time, so I will only pay for the days I am at work. Working gives me extra money, which in long term would be great, but also extra workload, which is not great :(

I suppose I'm a bit worried after working FT for so many years I will be a bit of a spare wheel...

I went back full time after 6 months maternity and my husband took parental leave then for 6 months. I lasted a year doing full time and then, due to circumstances beyond my control, ended up out of work. Being home all the time was ok for a while, but I then found a part time (3 days a week) job which is perfect. Lower stress for me, nice balance between nursery and time with parents for my daughter, keeping my career on track (ish). I try to get all the boring jobs (shopping, cleaning etc) done while my husband is at work so we have good quality family time together at the weekends.

It's only for another 18 months or so before she goes to school. I think I'd regret it if I went full time now, but probably will do as soon as she's in school as we could do with the extra cash.

I went back full time after having my eldest. Even though I was better off I hated it. I went back part time after my youngest, mainly because of child care costs for 2 kids 2 and under. I preferred part time when they were little. Now they're both at school I'm full time again in a different role. I'd say if you can suck up the financial hit, go part time until your DC goes to school. It's only really about 3 years.

If both are possible for you, I'd think about how the part time role would work. Will you have clearly define goals or areas of responsibility, do you need to coordinate with the other part time worker as a job share? Will your work load actually reduce compared to full time? In some ways it can be easier to be full time if the answers to the above are not clear.
Having said that, I don't regret going part time and slowing down (but not stopping) my career progression. I like the balance of having time with just me and dc during the week plus I get some household tasks done freeing up weekends a bit.

What happens if you change your mind in a month’s time and want/need to increase your hours? Will you be in a position where you have to find a completely new job and now manageable will that be for you?

I'm part-time and note that many meetings are held when I'm NOT at work. I am the only pt though.
Just another thing for you to bear in mind

I initially went back full time when my eldest was 6 months. I didn't (and still don't) regret it because it was 'needs must' at the time but when I moved jobs on promotion I had the chance to re-visit my working pattern and changed to working 4 days and loved it - just a day with no commute or having to wear smart work clothes is worth it for me, never mind the added benefit of having more time with the kids. I don't think I will ever work full time again even when the kids are grown.

If you can afford to do part time I'd do it. I've just gone back part time and I love having the extra time at home still with the baby. It's worth taking the hit on the pay for me. I'll gradually go up to 4 then 5 days as and when.

PT for 5 years and haven't regretted it for a minute. OH (who was always more enthusiastic about his career and has higher earnings potential than me) has been able to focus on his career in a way that wouldn't be possible if we were both FT, I get lots of precious time with DC and am able to do school runs, be there to help with homework etc. I volunteer with school so am active there as well.
Weekends we can relax and do whatever takes our fancy as most household admin I deal with on my days off. So our lives are fairly stress free, and free from all the rushing and frantic scheduling I see others going through. Plus I'm still working, and have a fairly decent job, so it really feels like the best of both worlds.

Money really isn't everything, so if you can afford it I would do it. Kids are only young for such a short time.
The only thing different with my position is that I'd have no problem getting a FT job in the organisation if needed. Do you think you could give it a go on a trial basis?

@ItIsChristmasTime- no, if I make up my mind, this is it, until someone pretty much retires or by some stroke of luck leaves, which happens every once in a blue moon, the contract is permanently PT or FT.
@Zebrasinpyjamas - I'd be doing the same work, just on fewer days. Before I went on maternity I gave up one of my responsibilities, ad I knew I would not want to go back to that role, hated it and it was a good excuse to step down, but otherwise, the responsibilities are plainly cut out, so no surprises. Just that obviously being there FT you naturally get more involved rather than being there on half of the week.

I work 22.5 hours, so 7.5 a day. I worked FT before having my dc, but have worked PT for the last 6 years. I will work PT for as long as possible. Luckily we can afford for me to work PT. I find working PT gives me the flexibility to cover inset/ sick days and it's great having time off with them durong the school holidays without having to take leave (I do take leave but obviously do not have that much!). Personally I wouldn't want to work FT but I understand it's not always feasible.

I'd do it. I went part time (3days) after dc1 and have stayed part time. When both dc are I school I intend to do supply on the other 2 days if and when I want. So in Dec for example I might not do a day and do the shopping. Full time work is not compatible with family life in my opinion.

I loved working part time as it offered the best of both worlds for me. However it did restrict my opportunities for promotion and obviously did also affect my pension.

I would still go for it in this situation since you won’t have the chance to do it again if it’s a one off. If it really doesn’t work out I guess you would have to move company or take a second job but almost everyone I know lived part time.

The exception to this is those who worked a four day week as this invariably meant they were still expected to do a full time role in less hours and for less money.