Full Time to Part Time

[MummyER]

I returned from second maternity leave to my current role almost a year ago. I am in a senior position where I work. I am currently full time but really want to go down to 4 days to spend a day a week with the children. I feel I’m missing out on them whilst they are so young. However the business leader says I can only go part time if I step down from my current position and therefore drop in level and salary more than the pro rata 1 day a week drop, basically a demotion. Is this acceptable? I see it from their side that they still need the work to be done but I think they are making me choose between my career and being a mummy. I don’t want to accept a demotion when I’ve worked hard to get where I am but I really want this special time with the children too. I’ve suggested dropping just one day temporarily as I thought it was the most viable option. Any advice very welcome. Thank you.

Would they be open to recruiting someone else for a job share? You do 3 days they do 2? A good compromise and the company would still have that post covered full time.
Or compressed hours over 4 days?

I would advise against dropping to 4 days. It's too near full time so many employers don't remove any of the job tasks. I know too many people who have just been expected to do a full time job in 4 days and have run themselves ragged for less pay!

Have you put in a formal written request for flexible working, i.e. the four days? I think you need to do that first of all and then they need to review it and respond. They can decline it for certain business reasons.

If they do turn it down for a valid business reason then it will come down to negotiation, so yes of course they can say maintain that you cannot do the your current role in a four day week. But anyway, don’t let them miss out the first step, of addressing the flexible working request that you would like.