'creating a new role' or demotion - please help me sort my head out

[blossombath]

I'm currently on mat leave from a trade newspaper where I work as deputy and online editor. I asked my boss about the possibility of part/flexi time work and basically he has suggested that it would be hard to make my job part time because of the dual role (ie the deputy plus online) so he has suggested that one possibility would be to create a new role for me. The person doing my maternity cover, who is on a temporary promotion, would get a permanent promotion and I would become senior reporter (currently the paper only has a reporter, the editor and me).

So it's sort of a demotion, but also I would get to do the stuff I'm best at in my current role and drop a lot of things that I don't enjoy as much.

Also, I'd get paid less pro-rata (probably one of his main motivations), but he didn't have figures so I'm not sure how much less.

But of course the main thing is it would be part time so more time with DS which is the main motivator at the moment.

Discussions are very much in early stages as he'd need to make a case to create the new role and nothing is guaranteed, but during the meeting we had I was fairly positive about the idea of this new role because I'm a pushover I want to be flexible.

I figure I would explain the demotion to potential employers in the future as something I did because I wanted to spend more time with DS, and also the fact that my boss is willing to create a new part time role for me rather than lose me is positive.

However when I discussed it with DH he seemed more concerned about the 'career' concerns than me, and thought it was less positive - basically them wanting the easiest option and knowing that I will be easier to negotiate with than the colleague who is currently doing my role and who would be likely to leave if they return to their old job when I get back. And he thought potential future employees might question why my boss was unwilling to let me keep the deputy editor responsibilities even if part time.

I'm not particularly career-minded, just want to do jobs that I get satisfaction from and get a reasonable wage for. Am I being naive in thinking this new role/demotion could be a good thing?

Also, now that I've been positive about the idea of it, how could I back track if i do decide I don't want the demotion? Am rubbish at this sort of negotiating thing, any thoughts or advice would be very welcome.

I don't see it as a future issue. I went from being in charge of the supply of ingredients in a factory with a continually changing schedule (and if we had ever run out my head would of been on the block!) to doing nights in a care home after dd was born! I've since then changed jobs twice - once into banking and then into housing and I'm about to start a new position with a new firm that have held the job for me for 3 months! If you're honest with future employers ie you felt for the good of the company you couldn't do your present job full time, but now that said child is no longer a baby you can put in the time needed for the position offered, and you took a senior reporters role so you kept up to date with your skills and career knowledge most employers worth their salt I'm sure would be impressed - mine have been!

Good luck with whatever you choose - and with the new arrival

It looks like you and DH need to sit down and think through a list of what you want and need. And then look at it again.

Some thoughts I've had:
Do you need the money? ie would quitting be a possibility, and then looking for a part time job - or does your profession lend itself to freelance?

If the p/t doesn't come off, what is better full time or no time?

You need the numbers out of your boss.

Would the part time senior reporter have the possibility to be turned into a full time job if you wanted to increase hours?

I'm sure you could explain that you wanted a lower role to allow you to balance your family and work needs when the kid(s) were small. Infact, I think I'd be happier with someone who didn't push to do too much and so actually achieve everything well, than someone who tried to juggle too much, and occasionally dropped some balls.

There is no right answer, just the one which is best for you at this moment in time.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts, helping me to think a bit more clearly, too.

DH has said he is happy for me to do whatever suits me best (subject to money, though to be honest we could manage on his salary if we stick to our budgets better, so as long as I can cover childcare that should be ok).

I think part of my fear is what other people will think. Some people I know were already a bit sniffy about going back part time, so I can imagine their faces if I say I've taken a job that is on paper a demotion, even if it's actually better for me. I know that's a really silly thing to think, and it should be about what is best for our family.

Writing out what my job description could be is a good idea, then I'll be in a better position to discuss properly next time rather than just feeling grateful they are open to the possibility of part time.