Work part time or work full time and take parental leave?

[Missmummy88]

I currently work part time ( have done for last three years ) three days per week have 3 children 10,6& 18months.

While baby is under 3 I will continue to work three days and consider going up to 4 when he is at nursery with 30 hour funding.

I always assumed I would work part time so that I could spend some time with kids during holidays. This obviously effects my pay quite substantially- 1. Because I work part time so get overlooked for head of x roles because of need to always be around to lead 2. Because i work 3/5 of my salary 3. I struggle to find a new job with salary jump part time (recently got offered a double salary job at a massive company but only wanted ft)

I just discovered about parental leave my understanding is up to 4 weeks per child per year with a max of 18 weeks per child over 18 years?

With three children I could take an extra 4 weeks holiday per year to cover Easter / summer and spend some time with my kids whilst also working my way up the ladder as a full time employee.

Has anyone done this? Obviously I would loose 4 weeks pay a year but they pales into insignificance when I look at the potential up swing working full time on double salary.

Aibu to go full time and just take lots of parental leave? Is there anything I should be aware of?

The issue with that is the employer can decline if not convenient and offer dates at another time. You'd need to get it agreed before taking the role and in your contract I think for it to be iron clad.

And the chances of them being happy with a head of x being off for 4 weeks straight is low. We had to get special agreement from on high for any leave 3 weeks or longer.

If your company is busy, they may refuse parental leave at school holidays (as this is time other parents also want to take AL) subject to 'business needs'
Childcare for 3 including school holiday cover is a lot
In some ways it takes a disproportionate amount out of your wages, whereas PT hours you get first chunk pre tax

Ah yes was thinking 2 weeks at beginning of summer and a week at the end rather than a 4 week block - and using other holiday for half terms Easter Xmas etc

Sounds a bit dicey. Is the leave discretionary?

That would be very unfair on both your employer and your colleagues.

If your of over every school holiday you are going to stop colleagues being able to take holidays then which will soon cause resentment

@Missmummy88

Ah yes was thinking 2 weeks at beginning of summer and a week at the end rather than a 4 week block - and using other holiday for half terms Easter Xmas etc

And what happens if the company denies your parental leave because it doesn't suit the needs of the business?

You can't just expect to take huge chunks of unpaid leave over the school holidays every year!

You can guarantee you will be given the dates you want for parental leave. There is also the issue of if a child needs an operation or something and you want time off for that you won't have the parental leave to use.

*you can't sorry

Parental leave will be hard to get accepted over school holidays.
And tbh it can't be relied on to have time off.

But isn’t that what parental leave is for? To spend time with your children?

@Missmummy88

Ah yes was thinking 2 weeks at beginning of summer and a week at the end rather than a 4 week block - and using other holiday for half terms Easter Xmas etc

You won't get given these dates. You can't expect christmas off every year. They'll offer you the dates no one else wants.

@Missmummy88

But isn’t that what parental leave is for? To spend time with your children?

Yes it is. But you are guaranteed the dates you want

In my current company I am the only employee who is a parent but can see why this could be an issue at other companies - hadn’t considered taking time from others summer holidays thanks

*aren't!

Honestly very few people take parental leave because of it being unpaid but some do try to in the way youve suggested on occasion i think an employer would struggle to accept this on an annual basis though particularly when trying to balance your colleagues leave requests also

@Missmummy88

In my current company I am the only employee who is a parent but can see why this could be an issue at other companies - hadn’t considered taking time from others summer holidays thanks

It doesn't matter if they are a parent or not. People who aren't parents also like Christmas and Easter holidays and time off in the summer.

Parental leave can be denied.

As since summer and Easter is such a busy time for annual leave, lots of employers would authorise it.

They need people to take their annual leave. They won't want to be denying AL, so some one can take every Easter amd time off in the summer.

Also, in most senior roles (which I presume you want) taking regular parental leave is often (not always frowned upon).

You literally want every Easter and to be priotised for a chunk of the summer holidays.

So you expect preferential treatment because your a parent. And you can’t see how that could cause resentment?

Interestingly I work b2b so Xmas off is preferred as many of our clients are off, and it’s slows down our productivity not getting things signed off so we close over Xmas anyway but I just took an extra day off this Xmas

Missed the bit about Christmas. You want Christmas, Easter and 4 weeks in summer off every year?

The problem with this plan is that your employer can say no.

I don’t see a problem with it - it’s an employment right (provided you’ve got a year’s service). My husband’s used his in the past - just to spend time with our son. But I think the biggest potential pitfall is like others have said that your employer doesn’t have to agree to the exact dates you request.

I think you will struggle to get it approved if there are other staff members who like/need/want to take time off in the school holidays. Not only other parents but you can have people with spouses or family who are bound by school holidays.

So I wouldn't necessary count on it to be always available at the same time of the year.

By sector regularions I have to take 2 weeks in a row once a year and I normally always get this in the summer holidays but I have to shift it around with colleagues so I may get the first or the last weeks or in the middle.

You want your general annual leave of what? 25 days? and on top 4 weeks each year. I would think that would make you quite unpopular with colleagues.

I had one colleague who always blocked the same periods, stating traditions with going away but she therefore blocked the rest of us until we complained to our manager and a rota for certain half terms and Easter was set up.

You’re entitled to (unpaid) parental leave, but not necessarily at the times you want it.

When would you be taking your annual leave?

@Missmummy88

But isn’t that what parental leave is for? To spend time with your children?

Yes, but the company doesn't have to grant your request if it would (for example) leave them short staffed or if it would stop other staff members from having their annual leave.