Pro's and con's of going back to work full time after maternity leave. Please help

[Bubba2010]

does anybody know the pro's and con's of going back to work full-time after maternity leave??

I'm due to go back to work at the end of May, working 40 hours pw. My partner works 5 nights (10pm-6am) a week and I will go back to working 5 days (either 6am-2pm or 2pm-10pm). The main problem is that both my partner and I work for the same company.

I also don't know if going back to work full-time would benefit us financially (i.e Benefits-wise). We still live with my mum atm but are waiting to get our own place through the council.
I really don't know what to do!! Can anyone help me please? xx

I went back part time (3 day week) and it was brilliant, reduced salary yes, but the tax level didn't make it as bad as we thought it would be.

Working part time is the best of both worlds, it gives you time to spend with baby and adult company - and when one isn't going well you can look forward to the other!

Ask the payroll or HR at your employer to calculate what salary etc you would get if you returned part time. Then you can check out other things.

all I can say is it is absolutely horses for courses in terms of your wellbeing/ happiness - you can only go with what you feel will suit you and your family best. Really, everybody is different in what suits them best. Don't feel guilty or 'wrong' for whatever your choice is, we are all different.

In terms of money, I think you could prob get one-to-one advice from someone on how the benefits will work for you, as a new mum on benefits (you say you're waiting for a council house)? At the very least, if you ring the tax benefits people they are usually happy to go through what you're likely to get in a given scenario. Again, put yourself forward, there's nothing bad about finding out as much info as poss x

Thank you for all your advice. I think I'll go to the job centre and see what they come up with. I've been putting it off as I really don't want to go back to work but we can't live on just my partner's wages so I don't really have much choice xx