Returning to work part time after maternity

[senicho]

Hi all, first time on these boards, great site.

Can I just ask, I'm about to return to work after maternity leave and request to go back part time. My employer has told me they are unable to accomodate this and I either have to go full time or leave.

If I cannot go back full time, and as a last resort will I have to hand in my notice or should they make me redundant? Would just like to know if the onus is on me or them

Thank you very much
Sharon

You would hand your notice in - presumably the ft post is still there. However you need to make sure you do this in time according to the period stated in your contract (perhaps allowing for accrued holiday so you don't have to physically return)

This happened to me, they said it was FT or nothing, and I couldn't do FT so I left it to the last day I could to hand my notice in so I could accrue annual leave. It sucks doesn't it? I found a PT job but it's difficult in my area to find a PT job.

You are not redundant because your job is presumably still there for you - you just don't want it in it's current form anymore. If you decide you definitely don't want to go back you should resign giving your normal notice period, to coincide with the end of your year's maternity leave so you accrue your maximum holiday entitlement and don't have to return to work.

I would advise against assuming your employer will allow you to use holiday during your notice period. If you hand in notice so that your last day of employment will be the last day of your maternity leave, there is no possibility they might require you to go back in and you will get paid annual leave accrued and not taken in a lump.