To not go for promotion during mat leave

[Lockdownmum1010]

I'm currently on mat leave, due back at work in 4 months time. A promotion opportunity has come up - would be a payrise (although not massive) but obviously would also bring more responsibility and likely more hours. My partner and colleagues are encouraging me to go for it, but I'm thinking it might not be the right time. I think I might resent the additional hours etc while my baby is so young. AIBU to not want to go for it?

You are not being unreasonable. It does depend though if you think it’s your one shot or if opportunities come up regularly. In my workplace there is a round of promotions twice yearly but at my old place if someone got the job above me (and due to low turnover) I would likely be waiting 7 years. I couldn’t imagine coming straight off mat leave into a more difficult role with more hours though, it would be awful for me.

I think without knowing your job it is hard to comment.

Promotions don't come round regularly, but it wouldn't be the last time it comes up. Also in the medium term I do plan to have a second child, so will hopefully have a second mat leave in the not too distant future...

Your post made me wonder quite a few things...

• How long do you expect you'd be in the new position for (before another promotion/ changing companies etc)?
• What are the hours like at the promotion after this one?
• Does it open up any sideways moves that might be of interest to you?
• Do you want/need the money for anything specific?
• How does it align with your overall career plans?
• If you went for it and then hated it, could you drop back to your old position or move companies easily to drop your hours back down?

YANBU to not want it but you need to be confident you wont regret the decision later on.

Is this your first child?

I went back to work after a year off fairly recently and I’m so glad I wasn’t promoted in the time I was out. I want to go to work and not be stressed, work reasonable hours and have a good work life balance now that I have a little one at home.

Get back to work and see how you feel before exploring new opportunities.

@AllTheCakes

Is this your first child?

I went back to work after a year off fairly recently and I’m so glad I wasn’t promoted in the time I was out. I want to go to work and not be stressed, work reasonable hours and have a good work life balance now that I have a little one at home.

Get back to work and see how you feel before exploring new opportunities.

Thankyou, this is what I was thinking

Going back as a mother is a very different experience, for me at least. I can no longer stay late and put in extra hours that I could before, nor do I want to!

YANBU. The absolute last thing I wanted was new responsibilities when I went back. It took me a couple of months to get my head round my old ones and it took 6 months of being back at work before DS started sleeping through. I was shattered.

Thank you, that's reassuring. My heart is telling me I'd be doing the right thing in not going for it, but wasn't sure if I was just being a bit wet

If that’s what you want career wise and you have a supportive partner go for it. I did exactly the same 8 years ago, and thanks to that initial promotion I was later able to secure two additional promotions. Having said that, both me and my partner work for a family friendly company so that helps. It is a very personal choice though.

Different perspective here. Also my situation was slightly different because I was offered a promotion (didn’t have to apply). Because they wanted me I was able to negotiate my pay and hours to my advantage. I took the attitude when negotiating that “the worst they could say is no” but to my surprise they agreed to most of my requests.

Also before baby I was a workaholic and worked long hours. Since going back after maternity leave my whole attitude to work has changed. Work is work and I leave it at work and don’t care as much as I used to. I still do an excellent job but I no longer micromanage and have stopped being a perfectionist.