To return to work part time after my first baby?

[Orangegreen]

Me and DH are expecting our first baby in autumn this year.

I want to go to part time, probably 0.75/0.8 over 3 or 4 days. I just think this will be easier and childcare costs are so high. I work for local government and if I drop my hours there is no guarantee I’d get them back. DHs income can meet all of our essential outgoings, mine is disposable/savings.

I was chatting about this to my friend who said I’d be better going back full time until I’ve decided whether or not we want a second child, and when. This is so I can get better pay on maternity leave.

We are on the fence about having more than one - see how we get on with this one first but there are a lot of benefits to sticking with one for us. If we did have another we’d definitely want to wait for DC1 to be in school.

I also could change jobs or anything in that space of time. DH is likely to be able to go for a couple of promotions and climb the ladder.

Is it better to usually return full time after maternity leave if you’ve not definitely finished having your babies? I’m finding it such a difficult decision and as we are having a baby before (most) of our friends it’s tricky to talk the decision over with anyone who has experience :)

I went back full time initially with my first and did regret it after a few months but by that point my employer wouldn’t let me change anymore so I had to move somewhere else to go PT (which turned out better in the long run tbh).

I think you need to go with what you feel and not what others think you should do, there are so many ‘what if’s’ you can’t plan for all of them.

If dropping the day works then do it! Don’t worry what anyone else thinks

For me personally i didn't want to lose any money if i didn't have to, my disposable money for treats/hopidays etc is so important. I went back full time and figured if it was too much after 6-12 months then i could drop whereas i worried if i went straight to part time i would always wonder if we could have coped and we'd have more money.

Can you afford mat leave/to save for mat leave if you’re part time? If yes then go for it. I’m part time and and on mat leave with Dc2 at the moment, we don’t need my salary to cover costs so it didn’t matter th at I was part time when going on mat leave.

Probably not tbh as the package isn’t brilliant in the first place and we’d have childcare fees for my working days. Might be doable once DC1 in school

Decide whats best for you and DH, then put your thoughts forward to your manager and when you both agree it may be feasible and the impact on your role/hols/pay, go to HR for clarifications and any choices they can offer you may not have considered

All the best

I'd plan to go back full time and see how you get on. It's far easier to drop back from full time to part time than vice versa. My DD went back full time after her first DS but went 0.8 so 2 early finishes at lunch time each week, after second DS. She found it cheaper to have both DC close together as if you go part time after second DC the elder DC only goes to nursery for subsidised hours whilst she was on maternity leave for second DC.

I never thought of that but that logic does make sense!

You only get those early years once, if you can afford to drop one day, I would. Difference in pay probably won’t be substantial as you won’t pay as much tax, pension and NI.

Went back FT after DC1 but we had family help with childcare.

Went PT after DC2 but my company only offered SMP then.

With DC3 there was an enhanced maternity package availabe but obviously it was based on my PT hours.

We've sacrificed a lot for me to work PT (no holidays abroad, currently don't run a car, live in a smaller house than we'd like) but I've had so much flexibility with my DC whilst they have been young. And saved a load on childcare.

I can go back up to FT though.

I took a pay cut and went down to 4 days. It's been worth it for the uplift in quality of life. I don't feel like my career progress has been harmed at all but that extra day at home gives me some much needed breathing space and I enjoy the extra time with DC. Go with your gut feeling because only you know what will work for you. I feel like there's so many uncertainties in life, for example, what if you couldn't have another DC, what if you got made redundant, etc etc... You never know what's around the corner so I think it's important not to try to plan too far ahead and to do what you think will make you happy in the short to mid term. For me personally that extra day not working really does make me happier and calmer.
Admittedly I work in the private sector so me going back to full time most likely won't be an issue should I decide that's what I want to do. I appreciate it might be different in your field, OP.

You will have accrued a lot of leave while on maternity leave, so you will probably be able to work "part time" by booking a day off a week for a good chunk of time, if your manager is OK with you doing that. That means you will be on a full time wage for longer. If you have your children close enough together, maybe until you go on maternity leave again! Wish I'd thought of it when I came back, but have since recommended it to my staff and it's worked well for them!

Its a very individual decision, wherever I e worked there hasn't been any kind of norm, everyone works out what's best for them and their circumstances but don't factor anyone else's opinion in, it s nothing to do with them