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Original poster

Will I be unemployable?

28 replies

Mineswithsoya · 12/04/2023 11:08

Due back to work next month. Absolutely can’t bear the idea of putting baby in nursery at this age. It’s “just” two days a week but that’s how I feel. Don’t come at me if you have other opinions on nursery pls✌🏻
However, if I quit my job and take another year off, will I be completely unemployable? I’m in NHS admin (medical sec).
Has anyone taken two years and been able to get part time work again afterwards?

OP posts:
FishChipsMushyPeas · 12/04/2023 11:39

I dont think you would be unemployable although you can often get admin work through a temping agency easier which would give you recent work experience if you are finding it difficult.

Dontbelieveaword · 12/04/2023 11:57

If you can afford to take another year off and that's what you feel most comfortable doing, then do it. I don't think it will male you more unemployable as such, some take years off having a family and then return to work, it will be more the availability of work that might be the problem. Plus you might find it just as hard to leave your DC next year as you do now. There's both pros and cons but the ultimate decision can only be yours.

Tablefortwoplease · 12/04/2023 12:10

I took a year maternity leave then resigned and had a further year or so off with my DS.
I had interviews pretty much straight away - in admin type jobs - I now work 3 days a week.
I was ready to get back to work by then but was glad of the extra time I had at home.

LIZS · 12/04/2023 12:13

Would you need to pay back any omp? Also what is your notice period as that applies if you do not return from ml. Any accrued annual leave? Are there any career break schemes or parental leave you can take, although you may have left it too late to apply.

PJRules · 12/04/2023 12:14

Can you ask work for a years unpaid leave? My husbands allows it and it would make it easier to return to work.

You're best placed to know about vacancies in your sector, are you paid more than the going rate or have a better employer than most? If not returning to a similar job after 2 years seems likely.

FishChipsMushyPeas · 12/04/2023 12:15

Can you ask work for a years unpaid leave?

Oh yeah good shout, my work offers a career break of up to 5 years

Parker231 · 12/04/2023 12:17

Have you signed a contract with the nursery and be liable for any cancellation fees?

RuthW · 12/04/2023 12:19

I work for nhs admin. We would snap your hand off. We can't get receptionists.

Mumof1andacat · 12/04/2023 12:26

I would check your maternity conditions. I work for the nhs. I think you might have to work for 3 months or you might have to repay some of your maternity pay back.

Oblomov23 · 12/04/2023 12:28

Are you sure that the birth is just making you over emotional and you aren't thinking straight. It might be very foolish to give up such a good job. Investigate other alternatives first.

Mogginsthemog · 12/04/2023 13:54

I would think it depends on the availability of your specific job.
Why do you say you'll be off for 2 years ?
Chances are you may have another DC, or find that leaving a 2 year old is just as difficult.

I was a SAHM for 7 years in the end and that wasn't unusual amongst the mums i knew.
In my case, yes it made me less employable. Different field of work.

Puffthemagiclizard · 12/04/2023 14:08

I'd say with the NHS it's much easier to negotiate part time once you're in, it can be tricky going in PT from outside.
You'd have to pay back your OMP as well.
Just read the threads on here about women who become SAHP, life changes and they regret the decision.

potatowhale · 12/04/2023 14:11

You're going to find it harder to find part time work if that's what you're planning

pinkdelight · 12/04/2023 14:47

Not unemployable but honestly, you'll be fine. Seems mad to give up a two day a week job. Most mums feel emotional about DC going to nursery at that age but acclimatise and get lots of benefits - not just from staying employed, but from keeping a bit of their identity/adult life away from parenting, plus you must have seen the zillions of threads on here where women regret giving up their financial independence/employability at this point. If you were going back full time, fair enough to want to dial back, but really it sounds ideal and you just need to have more faith in your coping abilities. It might be hard/weird for a start but you'll be better off for it in no time. Don't make a decision out of fear that you'll go to pieces. There'll be all kinds of watersheds to come as they get older and you'll be more resilient than you think. Just as you want dc to be in life.

Skybluepinky · 12/04/2023 15:46

Why put yr child in a nursery? Why not use a home from home setting (childminder)?

Easterfunbun · 12/04/2023 15:47

I stayed off for a decade it was fine. I certainly wasn’t unemployable.

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 12/04/2023 15:49

If you had enhanced mat pay you will probably have to pay it back if you don't return to work. But if you can afford to take another year off and want to then go for it. Won't make you unemployable, however i would make sure when you do return to work your partner/husband ia on board with 50/50 parenting for sickness etx. As an employer i would worry that you would be wanting to take time off for every sickness etc which would concern me

Travelfan2021 · 12/04/2023 15:50

This reply has been withdrawn

This post has been withdrawn at the poster's request due to privacy concerns.

Easterfunbun · 12/04/2023 15:51

@Travelfan2021

I did, it was easy.

PricklyFoot · 12/04/2023 15:52

Try it. I sobbed all the way from the car park into work on my first day back, but (just like DC did) I soon settled and actually my 2 days at work became a "break" that I looked forward too like others anticipate the weekend!

I know I definitely wouldn't be doing what I'm doing now if I'd stopped completely when DC were small.

PricklyFoot · 12/04/2023 15:55

Also agree with PP, persuading current employer to offer 2 days on return from ML will be much easier than finding a good PT job later.

Easterfunbun · 12/04/2023 15:57

Depends on what you’re leaving. I left an admin role for 10 years. It wasn’t worth my time or the time away from my kids. I returned to work at 31 and became a teacher. So depends on if you’re already in a career or not I guess.

Dacadactyl · 12/04/2023 16:00

I'm not in NHS admin myself but I was out of work as a SAHM for 8 years. When i went back to work got a decent enough PT job that fit round the kids hours when they went to school.

Crazycrazylady · 12/04/2023 16:40

As people have mentioned, you absolutely wouldn't be unemployable after just two years out of the world force but part time hours are far easier to agree when in situe with an employer although some people do request them at interview stage and are lucky.

roses2 · 12/04/2023 16:49

I work for a PLC and we've just hired someone with an 8 year gap on her cv. She came across as competent, hard working and knowledgeable, had relevant experience and qualifications prior to her career gap so we hired her. This was for a £70k/year job.

Mid Manager roles are hard to recruit for so I wouldn't worry about a gap on your cv.