Returning to work after mat leave

[Rattlerattleshakeshake]

Hi ladies
sorry unsure which thread to post on.

just wanted some advice from mums who have returned to work after being on mat leave.

DDs father has left me so I’m living back home with parents who will be looking after DD while I work. I plan to go back 2 days a week with the intention to increase to 3 days in the near future.

my mat leave officially runs out in September so I planned to take August as leave as I have accrued all my leave since being off, and then I’ll still be left with around 10-15 days until April and working part time I can’t see I’ll use much of it apart from mostly over Christmas.

I just wanted to understand whether people returned to work and done part time 2 days on their normal hours or did you do condensed hours to work an extra day. When it comes to the days you worked did you specify or let company decide on the busiest days that they would need you in?

im really not sure what else I should be thinking of. My manager has asked me for a plan as to what I expect my return to look like based on what will suit me and the circumstances and I want to go to her with as much information as possible but really unsure as to what else I should be taking into account?

woild really appreciate others advice. Many thanks x

Not quite the same but I have requested to go back full time condensed to 4 days. We can’t afford the pay cut. I’ve requested Tuesday-Friday.

If you are able to be flexible on days, maybe go in with your preference but be open to negotiating it for business needs. Have you factored in that your holidays will be pro-rata as well, including bank holidays (assuming you don’t have to work these)? You’ll get more as holiday if you don’t work a Monday. If you work a Monday, you actually ‘owe’ some holiday to accommodate this.

I went back with a plan - that I actually put together before I went off.

I accrued 52 days holiday so when I went back I took off 2 x days per week for a few months (4-5) then requested flexible working to condensed hours..
5 days in 4. This way my leave isn’t affected either.

you’ve got to think about what works best for you, and how you see it panning out.
I have to say I always thought I’d be fine to go back full time. And I hated the prospect. Hence the condensed week. I need that extra day off with my DS.
now pregnant again and glad I didn’t cut my hours down as it would’ve affected my maternity pay.

I would have Monday as your NWD. Most BH fall on a Monday so you get the pro rata time to take when you want. This is good for flexibility.

If you can do slightly longer days. For example if a standard day is 7.5 hours can you do 8 hours?

I went back 2 days a week, normal hours. I went in with my preferred days at the beginning of negotiating, and my work said "we're okay with 2 days a week, but we'd rather you did these days" which I then agreed to.

I went back 3 days a week after my first, and then built up to 4. It really helped me when I was honest and upfront with my manager rather than pretending I could come back full time.