Want to go part time after maternity leave

[Pancakes7]

So I'll go on maternity leave next year in May. I want to go part time when I come back, 3 days a week. I'm wondering when is the best time to ask about this? Before my maternity leave or when we are discussing my return? Anyone been through similar? What did you do?

Not asked myself, but I have been asked as a manager. People more usually ask when they are discussing the return.

When you’re discussing your return. You accrue annual leave whilst on maternity leave according to the hours you’re currently on, so wait until later.

@Isittimeforbed @Alfie190 Thanks both. I'll wait till my return chats. Hopefully they're ok with it. Tbh I can do my job in 3 days easily.

I would not ask - and as manager have need been asked - until return is being discussed. In any your circumstances or feelings about it might change! Bear in mind you should try to make your case as compelling as possible ie how your workload could be managed in 3 days and skills that you bring to the business rather than just requesting it due to ‘childcare’. Bear in mind there is no legal obligation to grant your request, but they should give you detailed feedback on why they have turned it down that you can then challenge. I’ve worked an large companies where flexible requests were almost automatically granted but am now in a medium size company where some are and done aren’t depending on role

Definitely have a plan of how you see the role working, you could even look at offering the role as a job share if you boss sees it as a 5 day job. speak to these people www.duome.co

@Blondiecub0109 and @caffauk Good idea for me to have a plan of how it would work. Hopefully they'll be understanding. It's not a massive business but last person on maternity didn't come back. So I'm hoping they'll see me returning as a positive thing even if it's part time. I also know before I started the woman doing my job retired. They offered to reduce her hours to 2 days I think. So hoping they'll be open to the idea.