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Original poster

Returning to work one day a week after mat leave?

63 replies

Mistletoesparkles · 07/12/2022 12:15

it would be great to hear from anyone who has done this and how it worked out long term for you?

I’m currently on maternity leave with first DC. Before having her I assumed I would want to go back either full time or 4 days a week PT. I’ve now completely changed my mind and just want to make the most of my time with her while she is little. I would like to ideally stay at home with her full time until she is 4 and in school full time (then go back to full time work). Financially this is possible, obviously with some cut backs but compared with cost of full time child care me returning FT wouldn’t make much difference.

The thing is I’m worried that taking 4 years out of work will massively set me back in terms of career progression, salary and also my confidence in returning, feeling out of date etc. I’m considering negotiating with my employer for a return for 1 day a week. This would essentially leave me at home almost full time with DC and avoid a big CV gap. Has anyone done this? Were you able to return to full time eventually? Did you maintain your previous FTE salary, job level etc.? Or did you end up paying a career penalty for the time out anyway? (When you returned FT).

just to add I work in the non profit sector in a relatively senior position and do love my job. I definitely want to return to it eventually but also want to make the most of DCs first years.

OP posts:

WhiteCatmas · 07/12/2022 12:17

As an employer, I’d wonder how useful an employee who was in 1 day a week would actually be to my organisation.

Itsallok · 07/12/2022 12:19

It depends what you do but unless we are talking shift work of some sort - in many workplaces one day a week is largely useless

ChessieFL · 07/12/2022 12:22

In a senior position one day a week isn’t enough. Too much of a gap until you’re in next so work would constantly have to be passed to others and you will spend half your day catching up on what’s happened during the week. Fine for a job where there’s no ongoing work from day to day e.g. care work, retail, but won’t work for most office type roles.

jeepjeep4 · 07/12/2022 12:24

I returned two days and find the balance perfect in that I am almost full time at home but also feel I have (just) enough time in work to actually be part of the team and contribute enough. Would two days be a better compromise?
I am lucky in that gparents have done childcare on my two work days so could afford this, and equally the other half of my job share is good and we've got an effective system of handovers and being in touch so work doesn't suffer too badly.

VanCleefArpels · 07/12/2022 12:24

Can you fulfil all your role requirements in one day? Which day, or could you be flexible? If not, who picks up the slack? Would you make yourself available for things that inevitably won’t conveniently fall on your chosen day? Crucially, if one of your team came to you with this proposal, what would be your concerns, what questions would you ask and would you really think this was a realistic proposition?

bravelittletiger · 07/12/2022 12:25

I highly doubt your employer will agree to you returning one day a week sorry. So you will be in a position where you will need to find something that only needs someone for one day a week- that doesn't really exist unless you are eg a consultant for one day a week so you would need to probably take low paid work elsewhere. Consultancy might be an option for you depending on your field. But yes I think you will undoubtedly take a hit to your earning potential, seniority and experience.

I would also just say that you might actually find you like working more than you think you will. I felt the same as you before I went back after my second but now that I have been back a few months I'm actually quite happy working 4 days a week and j actually even think my planned desire to drop to 3 days has maybe gone too.

AnyRandomName · 07/12/2022 12:26

I don't know anyone doing 1 day a week. I can't see it working with a senior job as your describe.

What could you realistically achieve in 1 day? Your first few hours would be just catching up on emails, and that leave 6hrs for actual work. It would have to be a very niche and isolated project without tight deadlines for it to be possible I suspect.

Thing is, you can't have it all. You are unlikely to take 4 years out and return to a similarly senior job. It's also fair to say that whilst the baby stage is lovely, it can get harder with toddlers, you may not want to be at home. And in many ways a school age child needs you more than a toddler does (they broadly need someone caring to meet their needs, but they don't need you specifically).

If career is important to you I'd consider 3 or 4 days at work. Even 3 is hard, from those I know who have tried it including me. Constant catch up, same expectation as full time but much less pay.

blebbleb · 07/12/2022 12:26

What job do you do? Unless it's low level and can be covered by someone else most employers wouldn't want someone in 1 day a week.

yadaya · 07/12/2022 12:26

I think it's quite difficult to advise as it will very much depend on the sector and the organisation.

I suspect for most organisations 1 day a week just wouldn't work.

With regards a gap on your CV, again it depends. However it might mean returning to a lower paid role and working your way up again.

hobbledyhoy · 07/12/2022 12:27

I'm not sure what your role is but I get the impression it's an office based one.
If so, I think that one day per week would be very difficult for you to manage because the workload would likely not be achievable in that time and may lead to increased stress which might impact on your days off (maybe that's just me) and your employer is unlikely to agree to it because it may be hard to find someone to job share at the same level without significant cost involved to recruit and train and 1 day wouldn't make any practical sense for their business either.

Very much depends on the job and the type of organisation though really.

hobbledyhoy · 07/12/2022 12:28

Apologies, just saw the bit at the bottom about the senior position. Like PP I think senior roles for 1 day a week would be pretty difficult if not impossible

NotMyDayJob · 07/12/2022 12:30

I think I have a similar role profile, although public sector, and am also on mat leave. There's absolutely no way my role could be done in one day a week. Minimum would be three, and even then I'd need a job share. Are you managing anyone? Would you expect to have a manager only one day a week. I work with someone who does two days a week (although less senior role) and it just doesn't work. She's never there and it's really difficult to work with her as she can only do a couple of days a week so if it overlaps with your flexible working or you take leave you just don't see her. I've had to push back on several deadlines because although they suit her working arrangement, they don't suit anyone else.

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 07/12/2022 12:31

I can't see one day a week being a feasible proposition. I also can't understand how in a senior role the cost of childcare would mean you pretty much break even. Assuming it's a low paid senior role and a very expensive childcare you would still earn more than you pay. I was on £28k when I returned to work after mat leave, childcare was £1100 a month so I was better off working.

GOODCAT · 07/12/2022 12:33

If you can make it work in your job, great. I went down to one day a week for a while, but even though I worked in the public sector then, it was a pain for them and I didn't enjoy it and left fairly quickly. Personally I would just take the career break altogether rather than try to do a day a week.

Glittertwins · 07/12/2022 12:34

I don't believe anyone could be productive just working one day a week. When mine first started school, I did mornings only for just one week so the equivalent of 2.5 days. It was horrendous- nothing ever got finished either.

Jackiebrambles · 07/12/2022 12:35

I work in not for profit and I've never heard of a 1 day a week role. I went back 4 days a week, my boss was 3 days. I did have one colleague who was 2.5 days too, but that's it.

It's worth bearing in mind that when your little one starts school, doing full time can be harder to manage due to short school days/school hols, unless there is good breakfast/after school provision. I flexed my hours x again once mine started school so I could pick up and drop off myself twice a week.

FlamingJingleBells · 07/12/2022 12:37

Go for a zero contract job & work 2 days a week.

icegoose · 07/12/2022 12:39

I also can't see one day a week being practical in any way.
Either stay at home for go in a sensible amount for part time, 2.5 days or more.

It isn't unusual to find returning after mat leave stressful at first but them enjoy it. If that doesn't happen for you then you know that you want to be at home full time.

StopFeckingFaffing · 07/12/2022 12:40

It really depends on your role and the needs of your employer but it is definitely possible in some jobs so worth exploring

I agree OP that you are better returning to work, even if just for a day or two a week if the option is available rather than leaving the workforce entirely for several years

I am a Pharmacist and it would be relatively easy to secure a 1 day a week role covering the regular Pharmacist's day off (in a high street Pharmacy) and I know Opticians who do the same but I appreciate it would be much harder in lots of industries

jamoncrumpets · 07/12/2022 12:40

If it's teaching they won't let you do 0.2

Waxxy · 07/12/2022 12:41

Do you have line management responsibilities?

UpToMyElbowsInDiapers · 07/12/2022 12:46

One day a week sounds insane. I think the minimum to be productive and useful to your team(s) would be 2.5 days a week. Imagine if you’re sick on your day at work, or there’s a public holiday… you’ll only work 1 day out of 14???

I’d also worry about your DC adjusting to nursery with so little exposure. It could feel very disruptive. Our nursery provider doesn’t let kids attend for fewer than 3 days a week, as her observation has been that toddlers don’t settle into a good routine otherwise.

Loads of women worry about what the return to work will feel like, but once you’re back in it, it’s really not so bad in most cases (I actually really love it). I think you need to decide if you’re in or if you’re out.

Clymene · 07/12/2022 12:46

I've never heard of anyone doing this and I wouldn't want to employ anyone for one day a week unless it was for a project where specialist input was required on a regular basis.

I can't see how it would work in a more general role. Do you imagine it would be a job share with someone else doing the role 4 days?

OnceAgainWithFeeling · 07/12/2022 12:47

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 07/12/2022 12:31

NEWSFLASH: men can pay for childcare, not just women.

EllieQ · 07/12/2022 12:49

I can’t see how 1 day a week in a relatively senior role would work - you’d spend half your day catching up from the previous week before starting any work. Would it be a job share role, or would the rest of the team be expected to pick up your work, as you can’t fit 5 days work of work into 1.

Most people I knew went back for 3 or 4 days. I did 4 days and my DH did compressed hours so he has a day at home, which reduced the cost of nursery - could your DH do something similar?

As a previous poster has said, childcare is a lot easier in the pre-school years as nurseries are generally open 8-6, all through the year, compared to school hours (9-3; 13 weeks of holiday each year). Not all schools have breakfast and after school clubs and holiday clubs. You might find it harder to go back to work when your DC starts school because childcare is trickier to manage.

I’ve also found more ‘emotional’ input is needed in the primary school years so far (friendships, falling outs, upset by something the teacher said), and it’s been helpful to have had those years back at work after maternity leave to build up reliability/ goodwill meaning I can be more flexible around school hours now (obviously this depends on your role). This was also useful for the first few weeks of reception when DD’s school did half days. Think about the long term, not just the next few years.

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