Should I reduce hours?

[Vhp83]

I am pregnant currently and am worried about coping when I return to work.
I have childminder / childcare organised however when it comes to logistics it's going to be pretty much me on my own due to hours my husband works.

My work is hour drive away and will have to be back in the office 9-5 3 days a week. I have 2 dogs which I can sort walks out at lunchtime but will need walking in the morning. My mum has offered to help with the dogs but shes in her 80s now so it's a lot to ask her.
Earliest I can drop child off is 7.30 and I would have to collect by 5.30.

I can take half hour lunch break when in the office to finish at 4:30 to get back to collect
When working from home I can work the full days.

Husband leaves house at 5am and sometimes isn't home till 7.30pm there are times when he might be away all week.

Is it too much trying to work full time?
I think it would be easier life if could only work 2 days in the office but there's a big push for us to be in more so not sure if I requested this it would be approved.
I had thought of dropping a few hours maybe to start at 9:30 so I would have time to walk the dogs when in office. My worry here is that once I drop hours if I want to go back full time it could be denied, I also doubt the workload will reduce and I already work extra hours at the moment unpaid, something that will have to stop in the future.

Just wonder how others haves coped?

If I were you I'd look into flexible working to WFH more. This should be a reasonable ask as a new parent. WFH helps massively. You don't need to worry about getting ready, packing lunch, traffic etc. 2 hours is a long time to spend commuting. You could use that time for extra sleep, hobby, prepping food or spending time with your family.

It’s very hard if all the flex has to come from you. Can your DH wfh at all, or start late Monday and finish early Friday so at least there are a couple of slots covered

No sadly not he's a contractor, he could be away Monday - Friday some weeks he's been working closer to home for the past 18 months but know it could change anytime so I need to be in a position so go solo really :(

I honestly don't think employer will flex on office days, which seems mad as there's literally 3 of us on the office. But it's company policy. It is something I am going to ask about and I will have to submit a formal request.

Is it possible for him to only take local contracts, at least for the first few months of you being back? Yes, it might be a bit of a sacrifice/juggle but it would be for you too if you cut your hours.

If you think it would be beneficial for you and your work life balance, it's always worth trying!

https://www.gov.uk/flexible-working

Will he ever be able to cover sick days, childminder holiday etc? If it 100% falls on you and you are in a very small office, that may impact flexibility your employer will give on other things.

No but his parents would step in.
We are satellite office to larger site, we don't have customers coming in so it don't see the issue in working from home but company are forcing everyone now so it think it would be refused, and wouldn't be fair to colleagues in larger branches who have to go on 3 times a week. I had thought of dropping a day altogether but know that if I want to go back full time they can refuse.

How stable is your DH job? If yours is the stable one, can he not look at reducing hours?

Who earns the most?

You have a lot on your plate with 2 children, 2 dogs and a husband that doesn't help. Something has to give, but think carefully about sacrificing yourself all the time.

Yeah that's what I am worried about. He does help with cooking and chores but it's more the logistics of childcare and dog care that's causing me a head ache and the fact about me wanting to be financially independent a work. I think I have more chance of them accepting an hour reduction with my work. With his job they go where they are told and it can be different everyday, they usually travel together so working less hours becomes difficult, sometimes he's working 2 hours away so wouldn't be worthwhile him doing shorter days.

I did think drop a day and some hours but worried those days and hours won't be available when I want to increase. Although maybe I won't want them to increase guess I don't know how I am going to feel :)

To be honest full time is a lot with a baby; I did it when my DD was 18 months for a year and I barely kept things going. I would have really struggled to do it much earlier than that.

I do think it's going to be too much. Was just hoping for someone to say it's fine it can be done. I am dreading it! Planning on going back to work after 9 months I will have a good chunk of holiday to use so could perhaps do 4 days till that runs out.
Thank you for the honestly

I think my main concern reading your post would be the emotional welfare of your little one being away from you for so many and such long days 😟

The child will be with a childminder, a consistent care giver. You don’t need to worry.

He has a local contract at the moment potentially for another year but he will have to go where the work is, he won't want to. I am just trying to prepare myself to be in a position to cope.
We have cleaner once a fortnight which I might look to increase to weekly but my biggest worry is just the pressure on rushing around 5 days a week and that hour commute each way is such a waste of precious time.
I just don't want to be the wife who gives up work and be dependent on a man, you never know what's round the corner so want to eh able to stand on my own two feet. (I have to be organised which is why I am stressing about all this now.)

Your work needs to have a valid business reason to reject a flexible working request, and others will be jealous is not on the list. Give it a go.

I think it's a lot.

What are your finances like? Could you drop to 4 days per week?

Are you settled in your house or would you be looking to move to a particular school catchment or whatever? If so, and if your work is stable, what about relocating closer to your work? That could be close to two hours travel time saved each day

Finances are ok so could drop. I am country girl at heart so don't want to move I like be close to country and beaches which is where I am now.
Something is going to have to give though.

Give over. Lovely that some people have the choice to not work full time. No need to guilt trip those that don't.

OP I juggle similar by working shorter days on the 4 days I'm on site and do a long day on the day I'm at home + a few hours in the evening. It makes it a bit less hectic on the days I'm on site. Could be worth discussing with your employer if you want to stay full time? You'd still be on site the required days but it would be more manageable for you.

You don't need to decide now! See how you feel on maternity leave, and if you think you'd like to reduce your hours or have a different working arrangement, then apply when you're on maternity leave.

If you apply now, and reduce your days, you're going to get less maternity pay as a result.

Also, the Employment Rights Bill is coming in to place imminently, which will give those returning to work from maternity leave better protections and make it easier to apply for flexible working.

What an outdated and privileged view. I'm out 4 or 5 days a week at work, and my bond with my DD hasn't suffered one bit. She's a happy, social little girl as a result of being around her pals at nursery all day long. OP, do ignore that response...

I am just a planner, need to have things in my head clear, this is my first child though so I have zero idea how I will feel about working I may wish not to go back but I do want to be financially dependent if I can be as never know what life has to throw at you.

Ask if you can drop an hour of each day. It makes such a difference

Totally get it. I initially went back three days, and realised I missed working full time. I found my feelings about returning to work changed constantly while on maternity leave, and so would suggest holding off as long as you possibly can in making any request.