Returning to work part-time

ellecf21 · 2023-07-14T19:54:09+00:00

Just looking for others experiences! I've worked as an Internal Comms manager full time for almost 5 years, same company. I've just returned after a year of Mat leave in a part time capacity (3 days, tues/wed/thurs). I appreciate there's a bedding in period but already feeling a bit of pressure at not working certain days and how that impacts my team who will occasionally need to pick bits up for me. I'm worried the rest of the team will find it frustrating that I'm only doing 3 days now. Is this irrational or have others experienced the same? I'm a diligent worker but I'm worried my new set up could have a negative impact. I'm thinking about asking to tweak the nature of my work potentially to be less stakeholder focused and more content focused, working more within my own team, but I might just be jumping the gun. Does PT work require a bit of a settling in period if previously FT? Would love others experiences!

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 14/07/2023 20:56

I'm assuming your boss had a plan of how this would look when they agreed to your returning PT - could you ask them what the teams direction is for your non working days, who they go to etc?

Original poster

ellecf21 · 14/07/2023 21:05

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 14/07/2023 20:56

I'm assuming your boss had a plan of how this would look when they agreed to your returning PT - could you ask them what the teams direction is for your non working days, who they go to etc?

I'm not sure he did to be honest, he's a lovely boss but he wouldn't have thought in detail how this would work. I'm definitely going to chat to him next week about how this might work being a few weeks in but I have just been seeing how it goes so far. For context, I work for a large retail business so we've got HR etc in place, this makes it sound like we don't but we do! I guess I thought it would feel more official/structured than it does but at the mo it feels like my full time job just in three days.

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Original poster

ellecf21 · 14/07/2023 21:07

Also, I don't have direct reports, i just mean the rest of my team (I'm mid-level). We work well as a team generally but I'm the first to work PT.

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Morag273 · 14/07/2023 21:29

Surely your role/responsibilities have been split or the company have employed someone else 2 days a week to job share with you? Otherwise you would be trying to work a full time job in part time hours.

Original poster

ellecf21 · 14/07/2023 22:04

Morag273 · 14/07/2023 21:29

Surely your role/responsibilities have been split or the company have employed someone else 2 days a week to job share with you? Otherwise you would be trying to work a full time job in part time hours.

My mat cover has stayed on and kept an element of my role. It sounds like maybe it's not been worked through for me as thoroughly as it should have perhaps. Really I just wanted to know people's experiences of having worked full time in a team and returning as the first part time team member. Others on my team aren't used to someone pt either and stakeholder wise I almost feel annoying to them saying I now only do certain days. Are these feelings normal?

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WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 14/07/2023 22:13

It takes a bit of settling in. And it's an adjustment for everyone. And you might get a bit of 'lucky you, having Friday off!' And the suchlike. I used to respond, no work, no pay, no holiday accrual...

Don't apologise for being part-time. Don't feel guilty. Don't feel you have to do 5 days work in 3 days. Don't work on your non-working days to compensate. It takes some time to sort out adjusting responsibilities and getting into the groove. But it works itself out eventually. I've only just gone FT again after 16 years of part-time work. It was tough at first, but it didn't stop me doing well and getting promoted multiple times.

Good luck!

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 14/07/2023 22:13

(Oh, and your worries and feelings are absolutely normal).

Morag273 · 15/07/2023 05:50

Ok, I understand. Yes completely normal. There is an adjustment period and it will take time to settle in for you and your colleagues. It will soon become “the norm”.

Good advice has been offered above - don’t try and do a full time job, delegate where necessary and don’t work on your days off or apologise for being part time. If there are any negative feelings of being part time from your colleagues just remind them you are also on part time pay. I find reminding people that my “days off” are actually hard work as I provide childcare - and actually look forward to coming to work for a break(!) changes perspectives in peoples minds.

Remember there are also other people often on holiday/off sick/away on training/at conferences/meetings that cause disruption and impact teams so it’s not just you.

I would also give it long enough to settle in without making any decisions on changing anything - at least 2/3 months to get back into the swing of things. If you still want to tweak your role after that then go for it. Just make sure you actually want to tweak your role and any changes are still in line with your long term career plan. Good luck!

Original poster

ellecf21 · 15/07/2023 14:20

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 14/07/2023 22:13

It takes a bit of settling in. And it's an adjustment for everyone. And you might get a bit of 'lucky you, having Friday off!' And the suchlike. I used to respond, no work, no pay, no holiday accrual...

Don't apologise for being part-time. Don't feel guilty. Don't feel you have to do 5 days work in 3 days. Don't work on your non-working days to compensate. It takes some time to sort out adjusting responsibilities and getting into the groove. But it works itself out eventually. I've only just gone FT again after 16 years of part-time work. It was tough at first, but it didn't stop me doing well and getting promoted multiple times.

Good luck!

All of this is so helpful, great advice thank you! I think I need to shift my mindset a bit too and be a little stricter about it. I think the balance is right for me in terms of time with my daughter and time for work, I just need it to bed in a little on the work side.

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Original poster

ellecf21 · 15/07/2023 14:22

Morag273 · 15/07/2023 05:50

Ok, I understand. Yes completely normal. There is an adjustment period and it will take time to settle in for you and your colleagues. It will soon become “the norm”.

Good advice has been offered above - don’t try and do a full time job, delegate where necessary and don’t work on your days off or apologise for being part time. If there are any negative feelings of being part time from your colleagues just remind them you are also on part time pay. I find reminding people that my “days off” are actually hard work as I provide childcare - and actually look forward to coming to work for a break(!) changes perspectives in peoples minds.

Remember there are also other people often on holiday/off sick/away on training/at conferences/meetings that cause disruption and impact teams so it’s not just you.

I would also give it long enough to settle in without making any decisions on changing anything - at least 2/3 months to get back into the swing of things. If you still want to tweak your role after that then go for it. Just make sure you actually want to tweak your role and any changes are still in line with your long term career plan. Good luck!

Thank you so much, that's really good advice and actually think you make a good point about giving it a few months before tweaking anything. It might all settle down and form a rhythm. I am a diligent worker who doesn't like to make a fuss so if I can seamlessly slip into a new normal that would be great!

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