I handed my notice in. But I've changed my mind and want to stay. What are my options?

[MasterOfBuggerAll]

I've changed my mind while I am serving my notice period. Is my current employer obliged to accept my request or not?

My position hasn't been filed, and things are pretty amicable at the moment

No they are not obliged.

They may accept, if they value you and haven't got anyone in mind for the job.

I have seen both. One left for a position with another company that went bust 2 days before he was due to leave the old one. The old job gave him, his job back.

I have known it where they haven't.

Were you professional about handing in your notice? What were the reasons? has any of that changed?

Not obliged no. The only exception would be if you resigned in the midst of a heated discussion or similar, in the heat of the moment, and retracted it once you'd calmed down. Not allowing a retraction in those circumstances could leave the employer vulnerable.

But where it's all amicable and you've just changed your mind, hopefully they'll be pleased to allow you to retract it if they haven't got anyone else, but if they decide not to, there's not a lot you can do about it.

I have been professional, and I haven't been slagging anyone off.

The reason I wanted to leave was because I found a job closer to home. I do like where I am, but I think what I really want is to stay where I am and reduce my hours down. I have a small DD, who at the moment I don't get to see much of. I thought as a family we couldn't really afford for me to cut down on my hours. But my DH is right, we can cut back on things. It's making me miserable not being with DD :(

So you want to retract you notice and reduce your hours?

It really depends on the employer and how much they want to keep you and if they are willing to put your job on job share or something.

They don't have to agree to reduced hours.
Ask, they can only say no.