Has anyone negotiated a new role in same company after mat leave?

[Llamasally]

I’m due back early 2022, I have started to feel like I would like a change when I go back. I think the person backfilling my position would be keen to keep it too. I’m in a relatively senior position in a large corporate so it’s pretty normal to move around a lot.

have seen two examples of people I know returning to a new (equivalent) role. Question is how and where do I start with a this? And how to negotiate the best outcome? I am terrible at negotiating for myself or anything like this...

*with this

Anyone...?

I did this, previous role involved monthly travel to Asia which wouldn't of been sustainable after children due to husbands job.

I spoke to my director who also managed the dept I wanted to move in to which was a newly formed team, they kept a slot for me until my return - same t+c's

Thanks @Kate6000 - can I ask at what point in your ML did you approach it? Did you get HR involved?

I got a promotion in Mat Leave. It came up and I just submitted my application.

I didnt negotiate it as such. I just gave my head of department the heads up and then went through the interview. They wanted me and could wait until my return date.

@Llamasally I used one of my keeping in touch days to have an honest chat with the director, I was honest but also talked through what I could bring to the department

I think they knew when I told them I was pregnant that I wouldn't be able to continue with the travel on return from mat leave although I did through the pregnancy.

They knew if I couldn't swap id have to leave and it was quite a specialist area (procurement in the tech sector) which they always struggled to recruit for, I had also been with the company for 5 years so had a lot of internal historical knowledge which would be difficult to replace especially as they were just going in to m&a activity

Hi @Llamasally

Is it the conversation you are concerned about having? You said you are terrible at negotiating for yourself, so I wondered if there was something around your confidence in your ability to do something different when you go back?

I'd say to get really clear on what your strengths are so that you can go into any conversation with a strong foundation, plus a goal about what would be the ideal outcome.

Good luck!