Did I sell myself short? Can you help?

[latteandtoastie]

Hi everyone - first time poster here, I hope you can help.

Short back story; I had been HR Manager since 2018 at my company (after being promoted from Senior HR Officer) in a full-time capacity until had my first baby April 2020. I went back to work after the year but part-time in the HR Manager role. I really struggled fitting five days work into three days and it was a hard slog for a year with lots of overtime etc.

I became pregnant with my second in child and I took the decision to request to step down when I returned (not due to return until Summer 2023) to either a Senior HR officer or a HR Officer, which, to cut a long story short, was agreed for me to go back as a HR Officer. I didn't push to go back to my original role as the senior as I was more keen on getting them to say yes to me stepping down (I tend to not always put myself first!) This was all signed and sealed in July last year as it enable my company to go ahead an appoint a permanent HR Manager to replace me when I went on maternity leave. At the time, this felt like the right decision and to some extent still does, I could not carry out that high level position on just three days per week.

However, fast forward to now and I have been having regrets that I didn't push to go back to the Senior HR role. Not for the money (although last year things were substantially easier finance wise), but because of the fact that I worked extremely hard to get the promotion in the first place and I still want to be involved in more complex HR issues (amongst other things). I was just a bit too eager to get them to say yes to me stepping down.

I would like to ask if they would be able to reconsider me returning as the senior. Has anyone got any advice on how I should (or even if I should?!) approach this with my boss? They are generally a very accommodating company but like all, trying to save money where they can.

Thanks in advance.

I was naive - at the time everyone thought three was workable and in my field, but then the pandemic hit and work levels incresed exponentially.

I would go back, do the role for 6 months and keep as much evidence as possible to demonstrate how you are actually doing a senior HR officer role. If they disagree and still want to pay you for an HR officer role, look for a new job where they appreciate and reward your experience and knowledge appropriately.

That doesn't make sense unless you didn't have enough work to do when you were full time.

Is this a really small organisation? Maybe you'd be better looking for a role somewhere bigger.

Just an update.

For those who provided helpful comments - thank you.

For those who went down the unhelpful route, I found out today that they have agreed for me to return as the senior.

🤗

Great news, well done!