To want to go back to work 3 days a week?

[Saladleaf]

Due to various pregnancy and maternity related discrimination issues I have had to resign from my job during mat leave. Flexi working was not an option and was 5 days in the office or nothing.

I have an 11 month old now and dream of being able to find a new job that allows me to balance being a present mum with the opportunity to continue a career I really enjoy plus bringing in more money than we have with me at home, which just covers bills and basics, no holidays clothes or extras.

I really want to go back 3 days a week but so far my search has only been met with slight smirks as if I’m asking for way too much and being told roles are full time only. Nothing comes up in my industry part time, very rarely.

Does anyone have any advice or positive experiences of finding a new job that’s 3 days a week? It feels like this is something granted to those already working for the company returning from maternity leave. I do feel very unsupported and a bit deflated after what has happened to me, I just really wish I hadn’t got this to worry about. If I can’t find a 3 days a week job I’ll have to go back full time which I have never wanted to do and will utterly resent. The alternative is being a SAHM which is both not for me, and means we can barely afford to live.

I think a 3 day a week role is a lot harder to find than a 4 day a week role - what you can achieve is so much greater with the latter.

Would you consider than instead?

Have you tried looking at job sharing?

Did you formally apply via a flexible working request for 3 days per week?

OP you are in a tricky position.You are entitled to make flexible working requests as soon as you start a job. However if a job has been advertised as full time they probably can justifiably turn that down that request by saying the role cannot be done in three days. You can limit your job search to part time or flexible hours and see what comes up. There will probably be a three day job out there somewhere but it might take a while to find and if the three days is crucial to you, you might have to compromise on other things.

OP can I just say the rude pp has been posting random unpleasant stuff on several threads, don't take it to heart

That’s my back up plan but I am genuinely unsure if I could bring myself to put my baby into nursery 4 days out of 7. I know this is the norm and many have no choice but am just really struggling with the idea. 3 in 7 feels doable as I’d be spending more than 50% of week with him.

I've just negotiated 4 days in a new job. I think 3 days will be a lot more difficult.

Could you start on 4 and then try to negotiate 3 days after you've got your foot in the door?

Another who thinks 3 days a week is a huge ask at anything above entry level customer service type roles. I also had to leave my previous job due to maternity discrimination so you have my sympathy. I did find a part time (4 days) per week hybrid job, but it took me over a year of looking. Good luck!

The other option is to take a full time job then ask for 3-day working after you’ve been there 6m or so and they know your work. Realistically most part-time professional jobs start as full-time professional jobs. Firms are still very reluctant to hire part-time professionals. It’s ridiculous and they would get fantastic people but there you go. Good luck.

Unfortunately 3 days a week is pretty useless to employers in a lot of corporate roles. I manage a team and recruit, we happily let people do 4 or 4.5, but for 3 in a fast moving project based role, it just doesnt work. If people want 3 in my industry they tend to go freelance, but thats obviously very unstable. But could be something to consider.

I think you'd have more luck trying to go for 4 days, then think about your husband also doing 4 days, then your child would only have to be in nursery 3 days. The other option is to consider career job options with shifts, for example nursing, police call handler, its easier to work 2 or 3 days (but likely to be longer days)

3 day per week roles are fairly common in my industry- but only for existing employees. We don’t hire on part time basis, but after 2-3 years pretty much every sensible flexible working request gets approved (we have one person on mornings only, so 2.5 days).
For a new hire in a fast moving industry , 3 days per week would be setting them up to fail, and even for someone established in the role it would be hard.
We don’t actually have anyone who works 3 full days, 2 off - its not sustainable. we have mornings only (all important stuff happens between 7 and12), 4 days, 4.5 days, 5 compressed to 4.

I work 3.5 days after 9 years as a SAHM in a totally new role to me. But not really sure how to advise because it sounds like whatever industry you’re in doesn’t really embrace PT. I’d advise to train into something that does, but it sounds like you love your job!

*I do work long days tbh, one day I’m in 9am - 8:30pm

Look at it from the employer's point of view - they need to fill a role which someone has been doing full time. They're not likely to be able to fit all that work into a three day role, so anything left over will have to go to colleagues who are probably already overworked.

I work 4.5 days condensed hours so I get one day off, and my workload is actually more than five days according to our workload management database. But I'm experienced in the role and know what I'm doing, so it's manageable-ish. I couldn't do it as a newbie. It's really, really common for companies to expect you to do a full time workload in part time hours.

Most of my friends with young children work four days in professional office jobs. The teachers and NHS workers all seem to do three days though (even very senior ones), I guess because the work can't be left to pile up.

If you're really set on three days, could you work freelance? Or is there an agency associated with your industry that might have short-term part-time work?

I negotiated a 3 day week when I applied for my current role with a Local Authority.

So it depends on what industry you're in?

I had to take a big step back though and traded salary for that flexibility and also have a fairly uninteresting job but moved up the scales very quickly.

I think the key is to target employers like this who are open minded to flexible working.

It's not ridiculous at all. If there is 5 days' worth of work, they need someone for 5 days. Doesn't matter how good you are, they'd still have 2 days to cover.

I would say, that's 3 days spread over 4 though. I don't think having 2 days out of the business would really work in my job.

What industry is it and what kind of salary do you need?

I work three days per week but had to move to a different sector and take a significant pay cut to get it. It was worth it for me, but I agree that part time roles are not easy to find.

I have in the past been offered full time roles and negotiated down to four days, but I’m not sure it worked out for the best as it felt like my employer’s expectation was 100% of the workload for 80% of the pay.

I work 3 days, but it's a (contractor) technical role in an industry with a skills shortage - they're grateful to get anyone.

I have a part-time hybrid professional job with decent pay. These jobs are like hens teeth.
I have been with the same organisation for 10+ years. I have only gotten to my current role through persistent polite requests for pt, luck and being willing to put up with what are effectively demotions when moving jobs internally to find more flexibility.
My tip would be to find a job in an large organisation where some people work part-time. Then look for internal moves to departments that seem to have more relaxed attitudes, especially for teams where several people are doing very similar jobs (more potential for job sharing). Get your feet under the table, prove yourself with excellent work and look out for internal opportunities. Make it known that you would love to work part time.

I work 3 days compressed which is a 75% working week rather than 60%. Could this be an option? I'm civil service

But there's no reason why they shouldn't hire two people - one for two days and one for three. It broadens their recruitment pool and part time workers tend to be exceptionally good value if only because they aren't as knackered as the rest of us full-timers. There's an element of sexism here but it is generally unthinking patriarchal tradition that means firms restrict their recruitment to full-time only.

Sorry that was in reply to @HoskinsChoice

So job share it with another staff member….? How is that so difficult to understand. Two people covering the workload between them.

Also @Saladleaf would your partner not tweak their hours so both of you work 4 days a week? This way baby is only in childcare 3 days, and with parents 4 days. Why do we expect women to impact their career progression and earning potential by going part time but not men?? You are both parents.

The alternative is working your three days full time or almost full time hours. For example 7 til 7 two days then the third day 7 til 1pm.