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.

Well, women manage to do this all the time.

You could look at doing public affairs or external affairs in the charity or public sector I have colleagues who were in PR before and now are public affairs managers at my workplace and the charity and public sector are more flexible

I'm very senior and my job could easily be done by job share or separate part-timers. Its always concerned me that seniority is equated to full-time (and almost always men) a legacy of the times when it was just full time men. Most of the traditional professionals - medical consultants, partners in law firms etc could easily be part time.