KIT Days

[Britta1]

Is anyone planning on doing any KIT days whilst on maternity leave? I believe I can do up to 10 during maternity leave which I’d be paid my usual rate for however not sure whether to bother with them or not. I won’t be taking the full 12 months anyway probably more like 9 -10 months. Anyone else planning on doing them?

Hi @Britta1

I plan to do a few KIT days here and there. Not for the money aspect, more for the what they are intended for...keeping in touch. I work within payroll and as things change yearly, I am at least planning 2 days March/April time to get up to date on all the new tax year info.
Mind you I might completely change my mind by then!

I did 2 last time. I wouldn't do them for the money personally but if you want to go in to work, at least you'll be paid for it !

I did them- to check my childcare routine.

My work wouldn't let me have them. It would have helped them too, but they were bastards

My work wouldn't let me have them. It would have helped them too, but they were bastards

Yes I am thinking about going in 1 day a month. I think it’ll make my transition back to work slightly easier.

I only plan on taking 6months so I'm hoping my employer agrees to the following,

No KIT days for 16 weeks, then 1 KIT day a week for the remaining 10ish weeks.

I intended to do them, but just can't find the time or the childcare. I didn't want to leave my baby for the first 4/5 months and now she's 8 months I just can't be bothered tbh! It's so exhausting having a demanding baby that I just don't want the stress of something else. I don't have any family nearby that I could draft in for a day, so we would have to pay for a days childcare

I'm going to see if there's any opportunity for working from home to do something useful for them at various pinchpoints in the year when everyone is swamped. Not sure if that will be allowed but it would be mutually beneficial (an extra pair of hands for them, and a bit of cash for me) and it would also allow me to 'keep in touch' with what's going on to a small extent while I'm away...

i used them for the last 8 weeks of mat leave. I did every Weds and it helped the baby settle into nursery. Around 8/9 months they start separation anxiety so I found that by getting him used to the setting and the people there it made me going to work properly so much easier. They say he is the most confident there now and its such a better drop off than it was with my daughter when she was that age!
Also, depending on the type of person you are, you may find after a few months of being a mum and focussing purely on baby that your brain is ready for a workout and something else to focus on. I certainly was!

I did maybe 6 last time and found them helpful, attended a couple of conferences and training days, and just team meetings and meetings with my manager. I work for a kids charity so am fortunate that they were good about these things, but I'd get paid a full day for being in an hour or two, and sit breastfeeding my little one while meeting with my boss.

I'm taking 6 months off but plan to do some KIP days after 2 months. Will be calling into work at least twice a month anyway to keep in touch.

Should have said that my line manager is happy for me to bring baby with me on KIP days.