Reducing hours after maternity leave

[Nitwittishy]

I'm at the stage where I haven't yet finalised maternity leave arrangements, though I'm likely to take the full year. Ideally I'd like to reduce my hours when I return from full time to 4 days a week. HR suggest I need to speak to my line manager asap to see if this is possible and if so arrange this prior to mat leave (though contract would only change post mat leave). I currently work from home a day a week and ideally would like to keep doing so but wonder if this would be an issue...

When is best to approach this with managers (and how)?

In my employer, you'd be mad to apply for this so early on because when/if agreed, it becomes your terms with immediate effect. It's good to be full time on mat leave so you accrue full time annual leave entitlement, which you then use on a part time working week so if you work 0.5 week you've effectively got double the leave......

In my work, it would be our standard form for part time/ flexible working (for me it's the same form) and WFH isn't included so we are never guaranteed it. 3 months ahead of planned start date would be ample time in my place.

I didn't ask until I was on my maternity leave. I had emailed after 4/5 months and she sent me the form to fill in. I came to visit with baby when she was about 5 months old we had a chat and they said they were trying to work it out etc. They were positive and I was sure it would be ok. We then sat down and went over everything when I had been on mat leave for about 7 months, went over what days, hours etc. I didn't get the days I wanted what I wasn't fussed on that, I came back 3 days and they didn't want my 2 days off together so ended up with Mon, wee and Fri. It was brilliant for baby as I wasn't away from her for more than a day at a time.

I think it would have been too early for them to know what they planned nearly a year ahead.

Although it didn't give me lots of options for nursery. I only needed one day and I could only find one place nearby that was available. Luckily it was a fab nursery. You could always put them in for a place and then change the days when u know.

I have never been on maternity leave, but I have been a manager for many years. I would not expect to be discussing return arrangements at this point. Keep quiet, keep full time for now.

Definitely wait until a few months before your return. You don’t want to firm up your plans this early as this might change.

Agree, stay as you are, earn holiday on a full time basis on Mat leave, consider using it at the end of the leave once your contact has changed to 4d.

Thank you all for your replies, that's definitely helped the decision!