I have said informally to my employers that I would like to return to work 3 days per week next year after 9 months of maternity leave. My employers are volunteer trustees (who are really just figure heads and play little part in the running of the business) and my role is the most senior in the business. I have suggested that I could do my role in 3 days with a 2 day per week assistant. They have said no and that they want to keep my cover on full time to do half my job and I can have the other half. So I will lose half my remit and share my seniority. Practically this will not work well in our small business (as my cover has not got on well with the team and several have threatened to leave if I don't return), financially it isn't viable (would require extra funding which is not available) and my cover would be impossible to work with. I wanted to know if legally I can stop them doing this. Do I have any right to keep the same job description of my full time job if I want to return part time? I guess I don't but worth a try.
I am going to try to persuade them first but if they won't listen I think I will have to go back full time to stop this for the sake of the business, my career and my colleagues.
Any advice gratefully received.
Thanks.