AIBU to want a promotion after returning from mat leave

[Newyearsameoldme2020]

Been back to work for a month since maternity leave and have been told a promotion is there for me this year if I want it. I've had to take on a lot of responsibility and am doing lots of overtime.
Luckily I can do my over time in the evenings from home once baby is in bed. But am I crazy trying to take on this much responsibility with a 7 month old baby? I still have baby brain and can't remember anything without writing it down so am I mad to take on more?

What kind of role do you do? I’ve never worked anywhere where a promotion is a thing you can anticipate like this - only if there’s a vacancy but from what I see on mumsnet some companies must have a different way.

I am doing a qualification which I started when mine was 7m, I think it’s good to do it while the baby still sleeps more to give yourself more flexibility/catch up time.

Only you can really answer that... if you have the right support in place then of course you're not being silly taking on more responsibility to allow you to progress quicker.

I'm curious about this overtime and how it allows you to progress though? Is it paid? Will you be expected to continue doing it after the promotion?

If it's something that will be expected after the promotion then I'd be hesitant because it may not be sustainable long term?

It really depends on what the promotion involves, more time in the office, more people to manage, more reports to produce, more travel, more budget responsibility?

I've had several promotions with young kids and it's bloody hard work. I'm the responsible type as well so take the extra load very seriously and it probably is more stress than what's good for me. Having said that, no way am I turning down a promotion!

I went back from maternity leave after 6 months into my boss job. It involved lots of travel which made it very hard but what you describe sounds doable... I suppose it depends on how good you will be at it! (ie no steep learning curve), how many extra hours, your partners feelings and ability to take on extra load.
Do they dangle carrots and then not deliver or will you get the promotion....

Its what I did, albeit after 12 months. Only you can answer this one though.

I went back after 9 months of mat leave, two weeks after being back was promoted into my managers post and started a two year course through work 6 weeks after promotion. It's hard work more so now that DD is coming up to 2 but I love my job and the studying is only two years which will be worth it once done. Think about it seriously though I regret starting the course so soon after coming back but knew that another opportunity like that wouldn't come up again in a hurry x

I’ve just become a single mum. My son is 18 months old and I took a promotion last month. It now means my role is not 9-5 and I have to do some work of an evening and occasionally weekend (full time role) For me, it’s meant a significant pay rise with the potential to move up again in another year and I make a lot in bonuses too. It’s given me the salary to move myself and son into our own home (been stuck in a stagnant relationship for years) and pay full time childcare fees. Yes it’s hard work, yes I don’t see my son as much as I’d like, but I’m building us a brilliant future and it makes me proud. Saying all that, only you can decide based on your situation x

I'm working in finance, it's a big company and there will be a vacancy this year. I know that for sure, and my manager who told me the promotion will be there for me will have the final say on who gets the job.

There's a level of over time expected regardless of the position we have, it is paid overtime. I've been given one of our biggest clients and that's what's causing extra hours at the minute. Only someone with a position higher than mine would usually have full responsibility for a client like this.

I can WFH one day a week at the minute and if promoted could take 2 days a week. The company are also flexible around hours, as long as I do 7 hours in the office, it can be 8 til 4, or 10 til 6. The way I'm working it at the minute I work 8 til 4, get home and spend time with the baby, get him to bed at half 6 and then log back on.

There won't be any travel involved in the job.

Thanks for sharing your stories. I know I'll regret it if I don't go for it but still think I'm half crazy for even considering it

To those of you who have studied after having babies, I really don't know how you have done it. I am struggling to retain any information at all

@MummyGoingItAlone things aren't great between me and dp at the minute and it's half in my head that I want to be able to provide for the kids on my own if things go downhill.

I'm lucky that my mother is my child minder (I do pay her) and that takes a lot of pressure off me when I'm at work.

So what you’re saying is, you’re already doing the job, but if you get the promotion you get.... more money and work at home more!
Do it!! Sounds a good place with the flexible hours and your manager recognises your good work.

Only you can know, but the baby brain thing will get better. It takes a wee while to adjust to managing work and having a baby.

I think often more senior roles can actually be more flexible than junior roles and you can delegate more as well. If possible, I would find out as much as you can about what doing the job the next grade up is like in practice.

If you don't go for it, you'll be marked down as mummy track for some time given that they have encouraged you to go for it

I took a promotion after both my mat leaves. Wasn't planned, just that's when the opportunities came up. Wasn't always easy, but definitely worth it and would do it again in a heartbeat.

If you want it; go for it - it’s totally up to you! For some people, it would be adding pressure they don’t want but for others it would be losing momentum and feel like a missed opportunity to sit it out. You can go for it and change your mind if you find it is adding unnecessary pressure - but why not go for it and see how you find it?

Best of luck to you OP and fair play. It is no small feat to successfully transition back to work, having done it twice to a senior professional role I know, but you can do it and you will always be doing far better as a mum and at work than you’ll ever realise or give yourself credit for!

Your hours sound similar to mine. I too can work from home and I do lots in an evening (I’m in Property portfolio building and refurbishment) My main priority right now is to be a good provider, save up and give my son a good life. I’m willing to sacrifice my free time for a while to achieve this. My son is only 18 months, so it is hard but I know will be worth it.
I think you should take it if personally, but it’s your call x

I'd go for it - employers that don't see you as a bovine ornament, merely ticking off the days until the next maternity leave or disappearing every other day to deal with sniffly noses genuine illnesses , are rarer than they should be. And for them to not only see you as 'worth' promoting, but to not demand that you essentially pretend that your child doesn't exist and work insane hours at the drop of a hat, are even rarer.

I've had several promotions since my mat leaves. The last one nearly tipped me over for the first few months as I found the sheer volume of work and responsibility overwhelming to juggle alongside logistics of 2 children and chronic sleep deprivation. For the first time I felt work was negatively impacting on the kids, in terms of the time I could spend with them but also the attention I could give them as I couldnt switch off. DH really stepped up to support me and I got a cleaner, which made things much more manageable. And eventually I found my groove. But I have more freedom and flexibility in a more senior role- I can do a lot more ad hoc homeworking, and no one clock watching me for taking an hour to attend assembly. I'm now considering studying alongside- I know it will take time to find a new groove but we will manage.

I'd say go for it. Overall I get an immense satisfaction just from managing to juggle it all relatively successfully. And last week DD (5) asked me if I was quite important at work (I'm not!) and said when she grows up she wants to be like me

It depends on the type of job. Some promotions mean more work for you and some promotions mean more work for you to delegate to others.

I'd go for it op.it may well be very hard but if it will give you financial security for your dc then do it.
The alternative is to not challenge yourself and maybe regret it later,if you go for it and it's really too much you can say so.
You can do it!
Good luck.

I couldn't imagine having to have the conversation where I say I don't want to progress further. I get bored easily at work and do need to be challenged.
Luckily the baby sleeps 6.30pm til 6am so I'm not sleep deprived.
I've managed to do an hour of work this morning already while he was down for a nap, probably just need to do 3 more hours this weekend.

@MitziK I was determined not to let that happen. When I fell pregnant I didn't want them to take work off me or feel I couldn't be under pressure. So I delayed telling them I was pregnant until after we completed a very large, stressful project. I worked up until my due date and was told by management I was the first person for a long long time that worked up until my due date and didn't go out early (we get 6 months full sick pay a year so it seems most pregnant women get signed off early).

Dp came down this morning and said if I can hire a cleaner to come in to clean the house weekly and he will even pay for it so I won't complain with that one!