Offered a big promotion but I'm expecting baby 1#

[objectivebread]

I work as a proposal manager for a consultancy, my job is mostly remote apart from a day a week in London. I've been offered to lead a department that will cover what I do but on a larger scale as we grow as a firm, which is heavily needed. But, my boss has said it may not be feasible for me to lead a department should I choose to come back permanently part time after my mat leave.

I planned on taking 9 months and am weighing up returning 3 days a week for a couple of years at 60% pay to ensure I'm around for the firsts and the core developmental ages. But this promotion offer is a significant amount more a year, I would have direct reports to manage (I've wanted to be a director for years now, it's been a goal I've been working hard towards.) I am the breadwinner currently as well, my husband makes excellent money already, we can take the hit of me going part time, it's more a choice of weighing up: More time with DC and more time to manage the household, or more money to do nice things and get the house renovations sorted.

Weird timing. I know ultimately this is my choice, just wanted some opinions :)

This is the goal you have been working towards take it. The question to ask yourself is, if I wasn’t pregnant would I take the job?” Your boss was potentially out of line saying it may not be feasible to do the job part time. Your boss has put a doubt in your mind that wouldn’t have existed if you weren’t pregnant.

You cannot predict how you will feel about work until you are nearing the end of your mat leave. That is the point you engage with your employer about flexible working options.

It may be the new job needs full time or 80% but there are options e.g. job share, compressed or longer hours on working days, using the opportunity to delegate tasks, redesign the job etc. In my experience employees and managers are very limited in what they think flexible working is. I have lost count of the number of times I have been told x wants to do (insert very specific working pattern) and won’t consider other options or manager states abc won’t work. I talk to the employee and their manager, ask questions and suggest a couple of options and employee and manager go can we do that - problem solved.