I can only get promoted if I work full time - WWYD?

[JuliaGulia]

Bit of a dilemma...which needs some sense checking.

I've been doing a job I love for over 7 years. right before I got pregnant I was in line for promotion but for various reasons (recession, restructure etc) it never happened.

The I announced I was pregnant with twins. Don't get me wrong, after 2 miscarriages, I was delighted with the news and work certainly took a back seat during a stressful pregnancy(remember the swine flu pandemnic?!)

Anyhow, I returned to work after 1 year working 4 days a week. I originally wanted to do 3 days but my request was turned down and on reflection 4 days is working out well.

However a promotion opportunity has come up again but it's been hinted that the job (which I totally deserve, is long overdue and the obvious next step for me) will only be considered on a full time basis.

I know a few other people within our large organisation do a similar job 4 days a week but admittedly their teams are better resourced. Do you think I should kick up a fuss that they wont consider it on a FT basis?

I don't know if I'm approaching this with the wrong frame of mind. I'm bitter that I've missed out on the job in the past and I feel taken advantage of because my experience isn't being acknowledged with status/money. BUT I've got 14mo twins and I don't think I should spend any less time with them than I already do. The job would certainly involve more pressure/money etc but I don't want to look back in a few years time and think I spent less time with my kids to get more money/recognition.

Also my employers are pretty flexible - when the nursery phones to say the kids are sick and must be collected, I'm allowed to leave. Do I really want to get on the wrong side of them by getting on my high horse saying their restricting my career by not considering a PT worker at a higher level? I'm a union member so it could get messy if I wanted it to.

Please tell me - WWYD?

xx

It's not a question of kicking up a fuss, more that you need to sit down and write a 'personal statement' or something to explain to them wht promoting you will be good for the business, good for the clients, and will provide a good role model for other people coming up through the ranks.

Don't ignore the potential downsides from the point of view of the business, but bring them to the table along with reasons why they won't really be problems after all. Google the research that shows the positive effects of diversity on organisations and the need for companies to begin reporting their diversity stats following Lord Davies' report. Emphasise how supporting part time workers increases loyalty and how part time workers have been found to be more productive. And so on. Send it in. And if they ignore it then kick up a fuss.

my dh has an 80% contract. he was given a similar message to you last year when his boss left - he was told that he would be given the promotion but they didn't think he could do it part time. he told them that he was happy to try and if after a year they all agreed it wasn't working then he would increase his hours and salary! so far it's working - he's quick to challenge any comments regarding his commitment and demand evidence of the problems being caused and so far there's been none. he is completely flexible though - it's 80% over a year not 4 days a week. and in practice he does a lot more than 80% although given full timers do a lot more than standard hours too i'm not sure he's relatively disadvantaged.

Depends on the job.

I manage a function that required decisions to be made on a daily basis and they can't wait (mostly as its food and it'll spoil) so it makes sense that they need a "me" full time.

If it was payroll where the "arrgghhhh this need to be done today" are less then I don't see the need for fulltime.

It depends very much on the job. I took voluntary demotion last year as although I was working p/t 4 days a week I just could not do the position in that time and it was very much expected that you would log on to the blackberry/laptop in the evenings or non paid day. I love ( mostly) my reduced position because it is genuinely part time and I can walk away each day without worrying about what will happen on my day off and also the days that will finish early. This was not the case when I was in a managerial position and had full responsibility for project delivery.

If you genuinely believe that the job could be done in 4 days a week then apply. I would suggest speaking to those other people at the senior grade working those hours firstly so you can understand what structures they have in place to allow part time working and secondly to find out how they feel and maybe ask them in your shoes would they go for the promotion.

Having flexible employers and a job which allows you to take time off when you need to is a blessing with young children and I would be wary of getting into an adversarial position with them and thinking about the union at this stage is probably not a great idea.

Hope it works out well for you and you get the outcome that is best for you, your twins and your emplloyers.

I think suggesting that you do an annualised 80% rather than a four day week might be the way forward - basically it would be as if you had extra unpaid leave during less busy periods.

Or else a 9 day fortnight?