Am I mad not to go back to work after maternity leave in the current climate?

[tamarisk44]

Due back to work in February but have always been 80% sure I wouldn't want to go back. Hour long commute each way, one child in school already, no breakfast or after school club so a lot of rushing around and relying on grandparents to do school pick ups etc. It's a good job but no room for progression and not well paid so I'd be lucky to break even on childcare and travel costs. My husband's wage will just about pay our bills but nothing else so it'll be tight, but it would be tight either way. I don't miss how stressed it made me one bit and would be happy not to go back but am I mad to give up a job now when so many people have lost theirs? Is the sensible thing to stay in a job where I'm permanently stressed and strung out from trying to get to work on time and then back to pick up two children from different places on time? Would be really interested to hear what you would do in this situation.

Personally I would continue working. Childcare will be cheaper as the children get older. Taking yourself out of work will affect future employment and your pension.

Look for another job. Start now. I don't think it's a good idea to take yourself out of the job market (particularly at the current time). And if you can only just about afford bills now, you are likely to get to the point of really struggling quite quickly.

I would look for a different job closer to home and maybe part time?

I don’t want to return next April either for similar reasons so I’ve lined up a new job that will be 3 days a week and better hours for pickups etc. I also would have considered evening work when DH gets home.

I’d worry about the gap in employment on my CV and I think mentally it’s a happy balance for me and the children. I also feel better contributing to the household even though DH’s pay could cover the bills.

Ordinarily is say it's worth keeping but can you actually manage to work if there's no wrap around and given issues with childcare?

I wouldn't continue working in a job if there was no financial benefit to doing it, so only if you have a good workplace pension or you do something you can't get back into.

But if things are tight, the answer is surely to find some work nearer home that does increase family income?