I returned to work recently after my second child. I reduced my days from 3 1/2 to 3 with agreement from my line manager. Before I returned I was provided with a list of the new projects assigned to me and I raised some concerns that I was being asked to do more work on fewer hours and I was worried I would not be able to cope with it all. It was agreed that I could drop one aspect of the assigned work and I said I would do this, but would need to review how things were going as it still seemed to be a lot of responsibilities for the hours I was going to be working. I was basically told that everyone was being expected to work harder and there were new targets around hours that we were all being expected to meet, whatever our circumstances.
In addition, while I was away a new role structure was introduced and a new (higher) level introduced and all people my grade were told we had 2 years to demonstrate we could be promoted to this new grade or, the implication was, that we would be managed out of the business. I expressed some reservations at the time about being able to get this promotion because of the limitations of working part time.
The environment at work is generally quite stressed and we have had a lot of staff turnover. As we work in different teams depending on the project involved, some teams are lacking people with the right skills and experience which is putting pressure on everyone.
I am now finding it difficult to cope at work. I feel like I am managing to do the bare minimum but I am spread too thinly and my standards are slipping. Its not been commented on yet, but i feel sure it will be soon. I am having to work on some days off and most evenings to try to keep up and my problems at work are affecting my mood at home and my relationship with my family, which is unfair to them. I recently had a meeting with my line manager to discuss my concerns and I have left it that I need to go away and think about what I do next. They did offer to see if they could take some work away from me however I am now convinced that this job is unworkable on a 3 day week and they probably made a mistake in allowing me to do this in the first place.
I want to leave, but also want to handle it sensibly. If I resign now I will leave before I have been back at work 12 months, which means they could reclaim my enhanced maternity pay, but I don't feel I can stomach being at work any longer because of some of the reasons above.
Should I try to stick it out a bit longer and then resign so I time it so I have been back 12 months or should I try to negotiate with them that I don't have to repay the maternity pay? I want to leave on good terms with work if I can, despite everything.