Returning to work after maternity - reducing hojrs

[bobble53]

Hi. I work for the NHS and want to cut my hours from 37.5 to 32, so not much really. I have to give reasons why this wouldn’t effect my colleagues but I am clueless. It won’t effect them - they have adequate cover for me when I’m on mat leave and this person can step up one day a week that I will be requesting I take off. But how do I word this? Anybody done this before and what did you write? I know I have to say it won’t effect patients.

Thanks

Presumably you have spoken to the person who will be doing your extra day as a job share and it’s something they want? Or are they expected to do extra on their usual working day to make up your shortfall?

You should base your request on how the business won’t be affected by your reduced hours but its not meant to be at the detriment to colleagues picking up extra work unless a job share is being created.