Returning to work full time after maternity leave

[shazza292022]

Hi ladies, so I am very nearly at the end of my maternity leave and was previously working full time. This is my 2nd and last baby and I was really hoping I could return to work on a part time basis however, with the cost of living going up, I just don't know what to do. We would still 'survive' on me going part time but we would have little disposable income, plus I am worried I am going to shoot myself in the foot in that, there might be more price increases to come as it just seems never ending at the moment. If I went full time money would obviously be much better. It just makes me sad to be working full time and missing out on my kids, especially as we don't intend on having any more, having said that I do work 2 days at home and when I did this previously with my 1st, I found I still did see him (and hear him!) throughout the day as he was home with my partner. I don't know what to do. Of course i want to see my children but obviously we need the money and our mortgage has just increased a ridiculous amount so it is a big worry of mine. I think I will just have to bite the bullet and return full time? Anyone else in the same situation? This post to be honest is more a vent than anything but I just feel so down and frustrated :(

Are your work open to compressed hours? Especially if your partner has the kids at home?

I didn’t want full time because I wouldn’t see DD with compressed hours and we needed to try and cut the nursery bill down. I do 34 hours over 4 days. I don’t see DD one day when I’m in the office but I see her before and after nursery the other 3 working days. I then have a day a week off to spend with her.

I’m worried that with the cost of living I might need to ask to compress my hours. My work is pretty flexible so it might that I end up working in the evening, although isn’t ideal it might be the best case scenario.

With your financial situation as it is I would remain full-time. Your children won't enjoy it if the cost of living continues to rise and you can't afford to heat the house. It doesn't sound like you would have enough of a buffer to be part-time for now. Also, longer term you'll be glad of it when you consider your promotion opportunities and pension.

It's tough with two but it sounds like you have a partner who does this share which does make things easier.

Make a deal with yourself to give it six months or a year and then re-evaluate.

It is hard when they're small.

Have you accumulated any annual leave while on maternity that you could use a day a week to reduce childcare costs and have more time with them initially? Or could you and your partner alternate doing this?

Could you start part time and increase to full time if the financial pressure becomes too much?

Have you looked at the figures closely? I do 4 days a week because it's the first few days that pay most my salary - the 5th day would be swallowed up in tax and childcare and student loan repayments.

I think that depends in the employer - they only have to took at a flexible working request once a year

I am a teacher and requested to go back part-time immediately after mat leave, which was denied. Luckily, an opportunity to go down to 3 days (what I originally wanted) became available after 6-7 months. Yes, the money does make a big difference, however my sanity is more important. Working full-time with a young child just wasn't manageable for me and often felt like a losing battle where I was constantly having to choose to keep on top of my workload or build memories with my family. I do not regret part-time AT ALL and, if anything, am only upset that I had to miss out on those early months when I was full time.

In my experience, you have to weigh up if the financial benefit is worth it in the end. And don't forget to consider the cost of childcare as well - it cost me £1,300 a month 3 years ago (will be more now with inflation) for full time nursery
so for some people, they may as well not work! Plus, you can't be any worse off part time than the rubbish maternity pay that most of us get!

This is very true, we were well over the cap on tax free childcare by the end of the week and the fifth day I was taking home about a pound an hour I think. Only calculate it if dropping is an option or you'll be in a filthy mood at work on Fridays!

It’s hard but working FT as a woman and in the current financial state is a smart move. Just think to yourself you can still be a great, loving parent while working FT. Millions do it.
Do think about what help you might need at home - the level of organisation required, what will your partner do, do you need a cleaner?

Are you able to pick up any overtime or extra days here and there? Would they consider 4 days or compressed hours?
I've gone part time (asked for 4 days but I'm doing 3). We can't really afford holidays or luxuries but I'd do it again. I might look for more days in a few years.

I think this is really sensible advice. Because absolutely things will get worse and prices will still be increasing - that much is clear from what was said yesterday.

I understand that there are detriments to "missing out" on this time with the children. And being honest, there's no way back from that. But people often focus on those detriments. What about the benefits?

Spending more time with your children doesn't mean they get more quality time, just time. Having less time may focus you on ensuring that time is better quality. What about the role model that you provide for your children, seeing parents both working and sharing home responsibilities? Extra money for enrichment activities etc is a positive. Keeping your head in the game and maintaining your career prospects is positive - I can't begin to ennumerate the number of SAHM I have known who have said that their IQ seemed to drop 20% and they were frustrated with the limited / limiting life of a SAHM (BTW, not criticising that as a choice if it's a choice - just saying that it doesn't suit everyone). There are many more that I am sure you will think of. So I'd go back, and see how it goes. If it is something that isn't working in 6 or 12 months, there is nothing to stop you re-thinking it. But once you have cut back your hours then that energy price increase already looming in March won't go away just because you are part-time.

I’m going back full time but 4 days with compressed hours and 2 days from home, DD will have 2 days at nursery, one day with my DH and one day with grandparents. DH and I have both compressed hours and will work 7am-5pm but we’ve only been able to do this as grandparents are covering nursery drop off and pick ups. DD has started settling in at nursery and is struggling with it so far as she’s nearly always been with me 😔 she’s now upset whenever I leave the room, and I’m worried about juggling work and time with her but I hope once we’re all in the routine it’ll be ok. I also have a lot of holiday built up from over the year, part of my compromise with going back full time was buying a week of annual leave which is allowed at my work and I’m hoping to carry over a week as well and be able to spend extra time with DD using annual leave. It’s also not long til Christmas and will have time with her then.

Is there an online calculator you can use to work this out? I have looked at salary calculator but it didn’t seem to have this level of detail.

I'm not sure if there's one online.

I did a lot of maths. For me it was working out a weekly figure for salary minus pension tax NI, then deduct weekly childcare cost, then work out 20% of the childcare cost and add either that or £38.46 whichever is lower for tax free childcare. Repeat for every option of working hours you're considering and look at the differences.

Basically once you start paying over £192 per week for childcare it's over the cap for tax free childcare so the day(s) after you hit the cap costs you 20% more than the first days. This is for children under 3 and assuming you are entitled to tax free childcare and are not receiving benefits other than child benefit.

I dropped down to 30 hours a week, it's not a big drop in terms of wages but actually does make a big difference to my work life balance.