Negotiating part time after mat leave

[hideandsqueak]

I do a quite specific role in the nhs. I am due to go back this autumn and in march i requested part time. First of all I asked for 3 days via be official hr form and my manager said no! I then said how about 2.5days as I was willing to be flexible and thought a 0.5FTE would make it easier for them to recruit a job share. My manager then phoned me up and said would I consider 2 days as it would be easier to recruit a job share for 3. I sighed and said okay.

The next time I speak to him he tells me that the 3 day job is now a higher pay band than mine and a manager job! So I said well it's not a job share anymore is it? He said no! But I can still only have 2 days cos he needs the money to make the 3 day job a higher band his reasoning is it will be easier to recruit for the 3 days if it's more money. The worst thing is he is offering it to my mat cover who has even less experience than me!

Anyway I am resigned to the fact that I asked for part time and I am getting what I wanted. But at the same time feel like I have been talked down to 2 days and a bit sad about this situation. I would love to be a higher band and I want 3 days. I haven't asked if I can apply. Haha. Not sure that will go down well.

But when I explain this situation to my friends they say I am being discriminated against. I guess I am in a way but is this just how the cookie crumbles when you have a baby?

You are only entitled to go back to your original terms and conditions, and have your request for part time considered.

I'm a band 7 and would find it very difficult to do on less than 3 days, so it might well be the case that the new higher banded job can be done over 3 days, but yours can't? Does seem odd though and I would certainly apply for the new job if I was you.

Thanks for the reply. The job sounds like it will be identical to mine just with some management in it making it a band 6. I'm a 5.

I would apply but it's such a small department it would be awkward! My mat cover was a band 4 until she took my job over and is now being handed a 6 on a plate! I think I am just jealous and feeling sad for my career.

I don't think there's a problem with what he's done with the posts. Three days a week at higher band is likely to attract a better candidate. however you should still have the right to apply as it should be open recruitment to the post and not just given to somebody who happens to be around. Make it clear you want to apply and see what happens.

Is there anything stopping you applying for the 3 day manager post when it's advertised, as it has to be? You don't need to ask if you can apply.

Your manager can't just offer it to your maternity leave, only suggest they apply for it. There will have to be a recruitment panel, including people in addition to your manager, so it's not a shoo-in for the mat cover by any means.

He is only advertising it internally and I know I can apply but it will make me look really aggro which you can probably guess I am not... We literally are a team of 5. I'm too scared to cause a scene.

I think your manager is being a difficult arse! You asked for 3 days, got 2, now they're advertising for 3 days on a higher band? So that's 2 separate jobs then, not a job share!

I understand that you are entitled to return pro rata to the same pay and conditions and as you say it's a small team but he/she could have told you about the higher banded job, that's just rude.
I'd go for it.

Good luck, I'm returning to my band 5 job in two weeks..... I'm terrified!

Of course it won't make you look aggro! It'll show that you have ambition, that you'll take opportunities, go for it!